A 20-member government delegation will head to Jeju Island Tuesday afternoon for the 17th inter-Korean ministerial meeting.

During the three-day conference, the two Koreas will assess progress made in their bilateral relations since the signing of the June 15 declaration in 2000 and will seek to form a consensus on the direction of future ties.

The South’s delegation is expected to urge for the prompt opening of talks between military officials of the two sides, citing the need to draw up military measures in pushing forward projects on inter-Korean railways and roads as well as maritime cooperation.

The South is also expected to call for the swift resumption of the six-way nuclear talks and to try to convince the communist state to join an informal meeting of the chief delegates to the atomic negotiations.

The two sides will also share views on the proposed exchange of letters between separated family members and on regularizing video family reunions.

Thorny issues, including the whereabouts of South Korean prisoners of war and abductees in the North, are also expected to be addressed at the ministerial talks.