N. Korean officials to arrive in S. Korea to attend peace forum

SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- A delegation of seven North Korean officials, led by Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, are to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Wednesday night to attend an international peace forum in South Korea.

The North Koreans will stay at the MVL Hotel in Goyang, north of Seoul, until Saturday, according to officials at the Gyeonggi provincial government, which will co-sponsor the forum with the Asia-Pacific Exchange Association, a Seoul-based private foundation.

At the international forum on Asia-Pacific peace and prosperity to be held in Goyang on Friday, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, North Korean officials and former South Korean Unification Minister Chung Se-hyun are scheduled to give presentations.

The North's delegation also includes Kim Song-hye, director of the United Front Department's tactical office, who has long been involved in inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. negotiations.

On Thursday, the North Korean officials plan to visit public institutions and facilities in Gyeonggi Province, including the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services in Hwaseong, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, the provincial officials said.

"Gyeonggi Province's Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, who visited North Korea twice last month, explained smart farm technology to be installed on the North's farms to Pyongyang officials. Thus, the North Korean delegates are expected to observe smart farm facilities at the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services," a provincial government official said.

"Discussions on the North Koreans' tour of the Pangyo Autonomous Motor Show 2018 to be held in Pangyo Techno Valley (south of Seoul) on Nov. 15 are also under way," the official said.

Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, and Gyeoggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung reportedly plan to have lunch and dinner with the North Korean officials on Thursday. Chairman Lee and Gov. Lee are scheduled to give a congratulatory address at Friday's peace forum.

The Ministry of Unification has said that there's no plan for any government-level meeting with the North Koreans, though it didn't rule out the possibility of the North's officials having contacts with their South Korean counterparts.

Ri, who has long handled inter-Korean affairs, met with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang in Switzerland last month on the sidelines of an international conference.

Kim Song-hye accompanied Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on her South Korean trip in February this year. She also traveled to the U.S. in May with Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

ycm@yna.co.kr
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