The Ministry of Unification said  Friday that it has tapped the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to pay the travel and accommodation for visiting North Korean taekwondo athletes.

It is the first time in nearly three years that the South Korean government has provided financial assistance for North Koreans through the fund.

The 32-member North Korean delegation arrived in South Korea on Friday to participate in the World Taekwondo Championships, led by the North’s only International Olympic Committee(IOC) member, Chang Ung. 

The championships start Saturday and run through next Friday in Muju, North Jeolla Province.

The Unification Ministry said it spent around 70 million won from the fund for the visit. The last time Seoul dipped into the fund, it spent about 460 million won to help North Korean athletes compete in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and Para-Games.