Two Koreas to hold second round of talks

Hwang Pyong So, vice chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army arrives at Incheon airport in Republic of Korea, October 4, 2014. Hwang led a delegation of three top-ranking officials, including Choe Ryong Hae and Kim Yang Gon, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, to attend the closing ceremony of Asian Games. [Photo/CFP]

DPRK high-level officals to attend Asiad closing ceremony

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has agreed to hold another senior-level dialogue with the Republic of Korea (ROK) as early as in late October, Seoul's Unification Ministry said Saturday.

The DPRK's three highest-ranking officials visited Incheon, South Korea's western port city, to attend the closing ceremony of the 17th Asian Games, the ministry said in a statement.

The officials included Hwang Pyong So, vice chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, and Choe Ryong Hae and Kim Yang Gon, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The three officials held talks with their South Korean counterparts, including top presidential security advisor Kim Kwan- jin and Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae.

During the meeting, the officials agreed to hold the second round of high-level talks between late October and early November whenever South Korea feels comfortable.

Seoul has called for Pyongyang to hold a high-level dialogue after having a vice ministerial-level meeting in mid-February this year, the first such dialogue since President Park Geun-hye took office in February 2013.

Details on the second round of senior-level dialogue will be discussed between working-level officials of the two Koreas.

The DPRK delegation said "the second round" indicated Pyongyang 's willingness to continue inter-Korean talks, according to the ministry.

President Park had willingness to meet with the DPRK officials, but they were pressed for time as they had to attend the closing ceremony of the 17th Asian Games scheduled to be held from 7 p.m. local time.