The government's first advance team for next month's inter-Korean summit has left for Pyongyang.

The 35-member team led by Vice Unification Minister Lee Kwan-se consists of working-level officials from the presidential office and Unification Ministry in charge of protocol, security, telecommunications and media relations.

The team is taking a presidential limousine and will check road conditions linking Pyongyang and the North Korean border city of Gaesong.

During their stay, the advance team will finalize a summit itinerary including the timetable, accommodations, the talks' venue and sites to visit before they return home on Friday.

The second advance team of 34 officials will go to the North Korean capital also via land on Thursday of next week, joining the summit entourage when they arrive four days later.

The three-day inter-Korean summit, the second ever, opens October second in Pyongyang.