Senior officials of the two Koreas are meeting in North Korea's border city of Gaesong after ten months of deadlock in inter-Korean dialogue.

Led by Deputy Unification Minister Lee Bong-jo, the South's delegation arrived in the North Korean city early on Monday morning.

In a keynote speech, Lee is expected to urge Pyongyang to promptly normalize inter-Korean ties and return to the six-way nuclear talks as soon as possible.

In particular, Lee will also stress that the North's possession of nuclear arms would only further isolate Pyongyang and stymie its efforts to achieve a much-desired economic recovery.

Other topics on the agenda include efforts for reunification of separated families and delivery of fertilizer aid.

The South Korean delegation will return home late Monday and again head to Gaesong on Tuesday for a second day of talks.