DPRK high-level officals to attend Asiad closing ceremony

A?Democratic People's Republic of Korea's spectator wipes her eyes with the North Korean flag after seeing North Korea's Kim Un Guk arrive at the men's 62kg weightlifting competition at the Moonlight Garden Venue during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon in this September 21, 2014 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

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PYONGYANG - A top-level delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) arrived in South Korea's western port city of Incheon in a rare visit on Saturday, rekindling hopes for a breakthrough in ties between the two sides.

Hwang Pyong So, vice chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission (NDC) and seen as the country's No. 2 figure after leader Kim Jong Un, led a trio to the closing ceremony of the Asian Games scheduled for Saturday evening in Incheon.

The other two officials were Choe Ryong Hae and Kim Yang Gon, secretaries of the central committee of DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

They arrived shortly after 10: 00 (0100 GMT) at Incheon airport.

Hwang rose to the current post only last month, replacing Choe Ryong Hae. He is also director of the military General Political Bureau, the top military post in the DPRK.

According to reports by South Korea's Yonhap news agency, Pyongyang "informed the South" on Friday that it hoped to send a delegation to be led by Hwang to the Incheon event.

The request was made through Pyongyang's sports authorities, it said.

The move drew wide attention as the three DPRK officials are not in charge of sports.

This is a move that "may indicate Pyongyang's desire to improve bilateral relationships," said a report by Yonhap.

A luncheon was held after their arrival, when South Korea's Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae and national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin, had discussions with the delegation led by Hwang.

The meeting, held in a hotel in Incheon, is the highest in level between the two sides after South Korean President Park Geun-hye took office in February 2013. The highest-ranking talks so far were between vice ministerial representatives in February.

Kim Kwan-jin, South Korea's national security adviser who is present at the meeting, told Xinhua before the talks started," There are a lot of problems between South and North during this period, we should gradually solve them through dialogue."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Saturday said it was hopeful that the visit can play a role in improving bilateral relations.

South Korea's government sources said the delegation will meet with DPRK athletes attending the Asiad. They would depart for home after the closing ceremony slated for 6 p.m.(0900 GMT).

The DPRK and South Korea have remained technically at war since the end of the 1950-53 Korean conflict. Although Seoul is so far withholding judgement on the timing of such a high-level delegation, its brief visit were welcomed by South Korea's ruling and opposition parties.

A ruling Saenuri Party spokesman said that by engaging in talks, the government should actively seek high-ranking talks to tackle outstanding issues, according to Yonhap.

Meanwhile, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) called for a meeting between Park and high-level DPRK officials, which it believed would help bring in an inter-Korean summit.