Foreign ministers from the two Koreas are expected to meet at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Laos on July 29th.

In a news briefing Wednesday, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said he learned that North Korean counterpart Paek Nam-sun will attend the forum.

Ban said the forum will focus on peaceful solutions to the North's nuclear issue and understanding and support from ASEAN member states by citing the dramatic progress in inter-Korean relations.

He said he will hold separate meetings with parties to the six-way talks on pending bilateral issues and the nuclear issue.

ARF is the only consultative body for security in the Asia-Pacific region having both Koreas as members.