A civic group arrived in Pyongyang on North Korea’s flag carrier Air Koryo.

An official for the Korean Sharing Movement said that some 90 people including group members left for the North on Monday. The delegation will attend a dedication ceremony at a Pyongyang hospital for a neurosurgery and respiratory ward whose construction was financed by the group.

Before they return home Thursday, the delegation will also hold a forum on health and medicine with North Korean officials and tour downtown Pyongyang and Mount Myohyang.

Their visit to North Korea via the direct West Sea air route is the first by a civic group since the North's nuclear test in October.