A high-powered delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) arrived in Seoul Monday for an international forum marking the fourth anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit in 2000, which set in motion a process of rapprochement between the two divided countries, organizers said.

The seven-member DPRK delegation led by Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, arrived at 4 p.m. on a chartered DPRK flight at the Incheon International Airport.

"The historic joint declaration of June 15 is a charter of national independence and a manifesto of reunification aimed at resolving the reunification issue in an independent manner," a DPRK official said in an arrival statement.

DPRK usually attaches political significance to the summit held on June 15, 2000, in which leaders of the two sides pledged to work toward peace and reconciliation by putting behind a half-century of enmity.

The joint commemoration comes at a time when the two sides are beginning to take steps to ease military tension although the standoff over the DPRK's nuclear weapons program remains unresolved.

Warships from the two sides exchanged radio messages for the first time earlier in the day to express non-hostility, in a new sign of detente between the two states.

Taking another big step toward detente on June 4, the two governments let their militaries take a series of tension-easing measures, including a halt to propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the land border effective Tuesday.

The joint event marking the summit anniversary also comes amid revitalized inter-Korean economic projects, including cross-border tour to Mount Geumgang, a resort on DPRK's east coast, and the construction of an industrial park being built in DPRK's border city of Kaesong.

Upon their arrival, the DPRK delegation was whisked away to meet former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who held the landmark summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang four years ago tomorrow.

On Tuesday, the DPRK participants are to attend the one-day forum in commemoration of the summit, which is also to be attended by former President Kim and other South Korean officials and experts.

Ri is to speak on his country's reconciliation policy with South Korea at a seminar scheduled for Tuesday, organizers said.

In addition, a 103-member DPRK delegation arrived on Monday in Incheon, 80 kilometers west of Seoul, aboard the same airplane for separate events marking the fourth anniversary of the summit, including a marathon race and an academic seminar.

Source: Xinhua