ROK, DPRK hold working-level talks on security, protocol for inter-Korean summit

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday held a working-level talks to discuss security and protocol issues for the upcoming inter-Korean summit later this month, Seoul's presidential office said.

The meeting continued for four hours from 10:00 am local time on the ROK side of the border village of Panmunjom, according to the Blue House of the ROK.

Nothing was decided at the meeting. The two sides agreed to meet again for the working-level discussion without specifying a date.

The five-member ROK delegation was led by Kim Sang-gyun, senior director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Four other Blue House officials attending the meeting were Cho Han-ki, protocol secretary to the president, Shin Yong-wook, vice chief of presidential security service, Kwun Hyuk-ki, director of Chunchugwan, Cheong Wa Dae Press Center, and Yun Kun-young, director for government situation room.

The DPRK delegation was led by Kim Chang-son, an official from the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

The working-level dialogue came ahead of the first summit between ROK President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, scheduled for April 27 at Peace House, a Panmunjom building controlled by the ROK.

If held, Kim will become the first DPRK leader to step onto ROK soil since the 1950-1953 Korean war ended in armistice. The Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war.

During the working-level talks, the two sides discussed issues on security, protocol and media coverage.

The ROK and the DPRK also agreed to hold a working-level dialogue Saturday on the installation of a communication hotline between Moon and Kim.

The leaders of the two Koreas agreed to set up a direct hotline of dialogue and have the first phone conversation before the agreed summit is held in late April.