SEOUL－The Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Thursday started talks to discuss security and protocol issues for the inter-Korean summit later this month, the ROK's presidential office said.

The five-member ROK delegation was led by Kim Sanggyun, a senior director of the National Intelligence Service.

Four other Blue House officials attending the meeting are Cho Han-ki, protocol secretary to the president, Shin Yongwook, a deputy chief for presidential security service, Kwun Hyuk-ki, director of the presidential press center, and Yun Kun-young, director for the government situation room.

The DPRK delegation was led by Kim Chang-son, an official from the State Affairs Commission.

The working-level dialogue came ahead of the first summit between ROK President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un scheduled for April 27 at Peace House, a Panmunjom building controlled by the ROK.

Kim would become the first DPRK leader to step onto ROK soil since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in armistice.

The meeting was aimed at ironing out the protocols, security measures and media coverage of the summit, the ROK's presidential office said.

"We had sincere talks for four hours straight," said Kwun.

He declined to give details, saying the two sides will meet again for further discussions on a date yet to be fixed.

The countries will need to decide how Kim will arrive at the venue, including whether he would cross the military demarcation line by foot in a symbolic gesture. The countries also need to determine how many times he and Moon would meet on that day and also whether parts of their meeting would be broadcast on live television.

The two sides have agreed to hold a working-level dialogue on Saturday on communications between Moon and Kim.

The leaders of the countries agreed to set up a direct hotline and have their first phone conversation before the meeting.

A summit between Kim and United States President Donald Trump is also anticipated by the end of May.

XINHUA/AP/AFP