The 18th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks will open in Pyongyang on Friday for a four-day run.

Led by Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, the South’s delegation is scheduled to depart for the North Korean capital on Friday afternoon.

During the talks, the delegation is expected to make a proposal on extending substantial support for the impoverished North’s economy as well as lay the groundwork for settling the issue of South Koreans abducted by the Stalinist country.

The South is also planning on discussing possible provision of raw materials for the North's light industry in return for the right to develop underground natural resources in North Korea.

On Pyongyang’s nuclear issue, the South is expected to urge the communist state to promptly return to the stalled six-way nuclear talks, calling on the North not to link U.S. financial sanctions with the nuclear discussions.

The talks were originally set to open last month but were delayed after the North unilaterally postponed the discussions to protest joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States.