South and North Korea have opened the first session of their ministerial talks in Seoul.

The South’s delegation plans to touch on five points in their speech, including the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, the full opening of inter-Korean railways and promoting the inter-Korean Gaesong Industrial Complex.

The North, on its part, is expected to express regret over Seoul’s decision to delay the shipment of 400-thousand tons of rice aid to the impoverished state.

In particular, during discussions between chief delegates of the two sides, the North is likely to strongly urge Seoul to start sending the rice aid at the end of this month as previously agreed.

Last week, the government announced that it will postpone the rice shipment until Pyongyang effectively implements a six-way nuclear dismantlement agreement from February.

North Korea has refused to proceed with the initial steps outlined in the agreement until it receives its funds that were previously frozen at the Banco Delta Asia bank in Macao.