S. Korea checks preparations for next week's inter-Korean summit

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae held a meeting Saturday to assess the preparations for next week's inter-Korean summit, with an advance team expected to head to Pyongyang the following day.

President Moon Jae-in will visit Pyongyang from Tuesday to Thursday for his third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and ways to improve inter-Korean relations. They held summits in April and May.

Moon's chief of staff Im Jong-seok presided over the meeting, which focused on the outcome of working-level inter-Korean talks that were held at the border village of Panmunjom Friday to fine-tune details of security, protocol and press coverage.

Moon will fly to North Korea on a direct western flight route. Major summit events, including the two leaders' first meeting, will be broadcast live. The total number of South Koreans visiting Pyongyang is likely to slightly top 200.

An advance team to be led by Suh Ho, a presidential secretary on unification, will leave for Pyongyang early Sunday via a western land route.

Around 100 members, including Kwun Hyuk-ki, a spokesman in charge of the Cheong Wa Dae press center, as well as broadcasting technicians, are expected to head to the North ahead of time for to prepare for the summit. (Yonhap)