The United Nations Security Council has approved sanctions exemptions for a South Korean civilian organization to provide COVID-19 quarantine equipment to North Korea.

According to details of the waiver posted on the U.N.'s website, the Sanctions Committee on North Korea granted a request made in January by the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Research Center to "engage in humanitarian activities for emergency relief towards COVID-19 prevention and control in North Pyongan Province."

In particular, it allowed for the import of thermal imaging cameras.

It is the first sanctions waiver for aid to North Korea this year, and comes despite a string of provocative missile tests conducted the North Korean regime in recent weeks.