Inter-Korean talks slated for early this month to discuss former President Kim Dae-jung's upcoming visit to North Korea have still not opened.

A Seoul official on Friday said the government is still awaiting Pyongyang's response in order to arrange the third round of working-level contacts on Kim's visit to the North.

The official said that even if the North contacts the South Friday, a meeting will be unlikely before Monday.

Experts thus predict that the talks could be replaced by a planned meeting with North Korean delegates who will visit Gwangju for an event marking the 2000 inter-Korean summit that opens Wednesday.

The two Koreas late last month agreed on Kim's four-day visit to Pyongyang from June 27th, but transportation and other details have yet to be finalized.