The South Korean government will permit an association of local civic groups to meet with a group of North Koreans in Shenyang, China, to discuss humanitarian assistance.

This is the first time Seoul has permitted such a meeting since South Korea banned inter-Korean contact on May 24th in the wake of the sinking of the “Cheonan” naval vessel.

Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jung-joo told reporters Friday that a local nongovernmental group has received permission to meet with North Korean members of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation on Sunday.

According to the spokeswoman, the group has vowed to provide aid only to infants and children.

Since Seoul enacted the ban, humanitarian aid to North Korea has only been approved if the provisions are for the vulnerable.