The Unification Ministry is considering whether to approve a visit to North Korea by three South Korean aid groups.

Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-seok told a news briefing Monday that the civic groups recently applied for the government’s approval to visit the North to monitor the distribution of their aid, which the government approved late last month.

The spokesman said the ministry will announce its decision soon.

The ministry approved five aid groups’ plan to provide supplies for North Korean children on July 29th, and three of the groups asked permission to visit the North.