South Korea approved Friday, May 26, 2017, a civic group to contact North Korea over aid programs, the first such approval since North Korea’s nuclear test in January 2016. File/Associated Press)SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea will allow a civic group to contact North Korea over help in fighting malaria, the first government approval on cross-border civilian exchanges since North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January 2016, officials said Friday. Seoul’s Unification Ministry said the Seoul-based Korean Sharing Movement would be allowed to communicate with North Korea to discuss how to deal with malaria in North Korea. The civic group said it will contact North Korea via email to try to provide North Korea with insecticides, diagnostic reagent kits and mosquito repellants and nets. Since taking office earlier in May, Moon’s government has said it will flexibly evaluate expanding civilian exchange with North Korea.

Source: Washington Post May 26, 2017 02:31 UTC