The Unification Ministry says that it has approved a request by a South Korean civilian humanitarian aid group for permission to make contact with North Koreans.
  
This marks the government’s first approval of such a request since its launch earlier this month, and the fourth nuclear test by North Korea in January last year
 
Attention is being paid to whether the move will help improve the severed cross-border relations.
 
Early this month, the humanitarian group Korean Sharing Movement asked the ministry to give permission for its plan to contact North Koreans to discuss joint disinfection against malaria and other aid programs.
 
Other aid organizations are also seeking government permits to contact the North.
 
The ministry said on Monday that the government will take a flexible approach to inter-Korean exchanges without undermining international sanctions on Pyongyang.

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