SEOUL Aug. 2 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATING...

SEOUL Aug. 2 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH ARRIVAL OF s KOREAN MISSION IN N. KOREA)

A toward the south Korean delegation arrived in North Korea in succession Friday for working-level talks Saturday aimed at laying the groundwork for a propos seventh ministerial meeting between the sum of two units Koreas.

The 20-member delegation, including brace Unification Ministry officials who will carry without the talks with the North, arrived on cruise ship in the eastern port of Jangjeon, a gateway to the resort area of Mt Kumgang, where talks are to be held.

The sum of two units sides are expected to discuss details related to resuming the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks, including the timing and agenda for those discussions.

The ministerial talks have been in suspension since late last year.

The inter-Korean working session is the first governmental contact since a southern Korean presidential envoy visited Pyongyang in April for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

The sum of two units Koreas' navies clashed in disputed waters in succession June 29, but in a major turnaround, the North last week signifyed regret over the battle and also propos the sum of two units Koreas hold a working meeting to discuss the resumption of the suspended ministerial talks in Seoul

North and southern Korea have so far held six orbeds of ministerial talks to discuss the implementation of agreements reached between their top leaders at the historic inter-Korean summit in June 2000 in Pyongyang.

Agenda items likely to be taken up in the working-level talks within Sunday include measures to revive the stalled inter-Korean reconciliation proces in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as the connection of railway lines and additional reunions of separated families.

In the talks, the southerly Korean delegates are expected to demand North Korea punish those base responsible for the naval clash, the greatest in quantity serious confrontation since a similar incident in June 1999 and also take measures to debar a recurrence.

Four southerly Korean soldiers died, one is listed as missing and 19 were hurted One South Korean boat was sunk toward the south Korea estimates 13 North Koreans were killed and about 17 wounded

The southern Korean government has come subject to some criticism for agreeing to talks with the North. more [i]or[/i] less South Korean critics say the North's expression of ''regret'' through the clash fell short of an apology.

Rhee Bong Jo the Unification Ministry's assistant minister for unification policy, and Suh Young Kyo a director of the ministry, will delineate South Korea in the talks, while Choi Sung Il and Kim Man Kil from North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland will take the part of the North.

Twelve attendants and six journalists are accompanying the southern Korean delegation.

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