A South Korean civic group official who recently visited North Korea says the communist country is peaceful and quiet ahead of the second inter-Korean summit early next month.

Lee Yong-sun, who heads the aid organization Korean Sharing Movement, said Sunday that North Korean officials are working hard to prepare the summit talks with great anticipation.

Returning from a forum on science and medicine in Pyongyang, Lee also said that North Korean officials expressed deep interest in inter-Korean economic cooperation and Seoul’s economic assistance in relation to the summit slated for October second through fourth.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether President Roh Moo-hyun and his delegation will watch the North’s "Arirang" festival during their Pyongyang visit as the North has resumed the large-scale gymnastic performance.

The "Arirang" festival, named after a traditional Korean folk song, was held in 2002 and 2005, but was cancelled last year due to floods.