The two Koreas are starting their 18-day-long joint on-site inspections of rail transport in North Korea on this Friday.
Almost 30 South Koreans, including the officials from the unification and transport ministries, as well as researchers are visiting to North Korea.
For two-and-a-half weeks, an inter-Korean research team and train cars will be moving together as they test the western Gyeongui Line first and then the eastern Donghae Line.
The government is holding a ceremony at South Korea's northernmost Dorasan train station to send off the researchers and train cars.
This will be the first time in over 10 years that the two Koreas have checked the western Gyeongui Line and the first time in history they've conducted a survey on the eastern Donghae Line.
On Thursday, the South delivered 50 tons of pesticide north of the border.
The chemicals will be used to keep what remains of the North's forests free from disease.
South Korean officials made their second-ever on-site forestry visit to North Korea on Thursday.
According to Seoul's unification ministry, experts and officials from South Korea's Forest Service visited North Korea's border town of Gaeseong on Thursday and delivered 50 tons of chemicals to control pine wilt. After unloading the chemicals in the morning, the South Korean team inspected a nearby pine forest with North Korean officials and conducted pest control operations in the afternoon.
The operation does not go against UN sanctions as the chemicals are not restricted items and the necessary equipment is provided by the North.
Back in August, Seoul officials visited the North's Geumgangsan Mountain for a joint survey.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in is now in Argentina – the second leg of his three nation tour around the world.
He is in South America for the G20 Summit and numerous one-on-ones with leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump.
The focus for the South Korean leader is denuclearization of North Korea and to forge lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
President Moon and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to discuss ways to try and lift growing uncertainties surrounding the stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyeongyang.
The South Korean leader also has meetings lined up with the leaders of the Netherlands and South Africa.
Both are non-permanent members of the UN Security Council and the Netherlands also sits on the UN's North Korea Sanctions Committee.
South Korea's presidential office says details like the time, date and formality of the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump is still under discussion.
A Blue House official says the White House suggested it be one-on-one meeting with just the leaders and translators in attendance rather than an expanded summit.
Source: Arirang News
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