DPRK visit: Sign of warming ties

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In another move seen as a thawing of frosty relations, the DPRK notified South Korea on Thursday that it will end all transport restrictions across their common border.

The restrictions were imposed last December.

The DPRK later informed the administrative committee of the joint Korean Kaesong Industrial Park that the work of the office of the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Talks could resume. Service on the Seoul-Gyeongui railway was also restored.

Seoul's Unification Ministry said the two sides have set up a temporary hot-line between their Red Cross liaison offices at the border village of Panmunjom to coordinate the delegation's visit.

The visit may provide a valuable opportunity for bilateral dialogue. Relations between the North and the South deteriorated following the inauguration last year of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.