The two Koreas will hold Wednesday their 13th inter-Korean economic cooperation talks in Pyongyang.

During the four-day meeting, the government will reportedly urge the North to implement initial steps toward its nuclear dismantlement in line with the six-way nuclear agreement reached February 13th.

The North failed to meet last Saturday's deadline for taking inital steps which included the shutdown of its nuclear facilities.

At the meeting, Seoul will reportedly agree to ship 400-thousand tons of rice to the North as requested by Pyongyang, unless the situation surrounding the North's nuclear program gets worse.

Seoul's Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung expressed hope that the planned meeting, which he said is aimed at settling peace on the Korean Peninsula, will be a success.

A ministry official said that the South Korean delegation will convey Seoul's position and urge the North to swiftly implement the initial steps, while also sounding out the North’s intentions.

The South Korean delegation will leave for Pyongyang on Wednesday.