In a first of its kind, NASA is planning to participate in South Korea's moon probe project, according to the science ministry.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute will sign an agreement in mid-June with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to facilitate joint research used in the development of an orbital spacecraft, said the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

The agreement, which will be conducted on a government level, is unprecedented, as prior efforts for joint research on an international level in the aerospace field were made by universities.

South Korea's moon probe project aims for an orbital spacecraft to be developed by 2017, then followed by a launch of a landing shuttle in 2020.

After details are worked out regarding the joint research, the U.S. and South Korea will sign a memorandum of understanding towards the end of the year.