SEOUL - The Republic of Korea on Friday approved the first civilian contact with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the new government of President Moon Jae-in, indicating a gradual resumption of inter-Korean exchanges.

Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Yoo-jin said the government gave a green light to the request by civic group Korean Sharing Movement for contact with the DPRK to tackle malaria in border areas.

It was the first such approval by the ROK government since the DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test last year.