Gov't okays environmental aid group's visit to N. Korea

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- The Unification Ministry said Friday it has approved a
visit by a civic aid group to North Korea to give help and training on tree
planting projects.

The government approved five officials from the Green One Korea, an aid group
specializing in tree planting and other environmental projects, for a three-day
visit to Pyongyang from Saturday, the ministry said.
The group officials will visit a nursery and an apple tree farm to monitor
progress in the previous tree planting project and also train locals on
irrigation.
Seoul had placed a blanket ban on non-governmental cross-border trips after North
Korea's second nuclear test on May 25, effectively freezing humanitarian aid
projects as well as social and cultural exchanges with the North. Its first
approval in nearly two months was given to World Vision, a multinational aid
organization, last week.
odissy@yna.co.k