Seoul delegation arrives in P`yang, to hold inter-ministerial talks Wed.

South and North Korea will open the fourth round of inter-Korean ministerial talks Wednesday at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang. Headed by Unification Minister Park Jae-Kyu, the 38-member Seoul delegation arrived in the North Korean capital on a chartered flight and began the itinerary of the inter-Korean parley. At the hotel, Minister Park met with his Pyongyang counterpart Jon Gum-Jin, a senior cabinet counselor, for informal discussions.

During their meeting, the two chief delegates shared the view that the Pyongyang talks are highly important as the two sides would evaluate developments in inter-Korean relations and decide on the direction of future talks. The two sides, making contacts through liaison officials in the afternoon, also agreed to hold five rounds of meetings, two on Wednesday, two on Thursday and one on Friday.

North Korean chief delegate Jon expressed hope that, during the talks, the South and North Korea would achieve unity and map out solid plans for the future, stressing that there should be no development running counter to the June 15 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration and that the delegations of the two sides should endeavor to carry out the mandated tasks with firm unity and harmony.

Noting that the current ministerial talks would be last of the year, Park called for the North's positive cooperation in conducting the talks and resolving all pending issues that remain after three rounds of past talks.