Seoul, Dec 4 (IANS): China's media regulator has approved a South Korean video game for the first time in nearly four years in what could be a relaxation of economic retaliation.

China's National Press and Publication Administration issued a license for "Summoners War", paving the way for Com2uS Corp. to officially sell the mobile game in the Chinese market, according to the South Korean video game developer.

The decision marks a shift from China's reluctance to approve South Korean video games in apparent economic retaliation against Seoul over the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea, reports Yonhap news agency.

In 2017, Seoul and Washington deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.

China, South Korea's largest trading partner, has repeatedly pressed Seoul to withdraw the missile defense system, claiming it could hurt its security interests.

Prior to the Chinese regulator's latest decision, no South Korean game had received a license since March 2017.

Besides video games, other South Korean industries, such as tourism, have been hit hard by China's retaliation.

The number of Chinese tourists to South Korea fell by more than 30 per cent in the 2017-2020 period from three years earlier amid the diplomatic row, according to data by the Korea Tourism Organization.

The latest video game approval raised hopes that more South Korean games could enter the Chinese market.