SEOUL -- High-level officials of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) started talks at the border village of Panmunjom on Friday, Seoul's unification ministry said.

The senior-level dialogue kicked off at about 10 am local time (0100 GMT) at the Peace House, an ROK building in Panmunjom.

Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon headed the five-member ROK delegation, comprised of officials in charge of railway, sports and inter-Korean cooperation.

The DPRK delegation was led by Ri Son-gwon, a chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.