A 300-member civic delegation arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday morning for a four-day joint event marking the fifth anniversary of the inter-Korean summit.

A separate Seoul delegation headed by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also arrived in the North Korean capital in the afternoon.

In a news conference before departing, Chung said he hopes the joint festival will contribute to building bilateral trust and creating a conducive environment for inter-Korean ministers' talks next week in Seoul.

Civic delegation leader Paik Nak-chung also said both sides will commit to protecting peace on the Korean Peninsula during the celebrations, which come amid heightened tension over the nuclear standoff.

The two delegations will attend the opening ceremony at Kim Il Sung Stadium Tuesday evening and other events organized by inter-Korean civic groups.

Wednesday will see a unification rally and celebratory performances, while delegates from the two Koreas will hold meetings and attend the closing ceremony Thursday.

Chung and his delegates will also meet the North's parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam and other state officials on the sidelines of the joint celebrations before returning to Seoul on Friday.