The Unification Ministry says the president's top security aide and a senior North Korean official will co-chair an inter-Korean committee to establish a peace zone in the West Sea.

The ministry said Pyongyang had informed Seoul of the names of its seven delegates to attend the two-day meeting that begins Friday in Gaesong.

The South Korean delegation will consist of seven senior working-level government officials led by presidential security aide Baek Jong-chun.

At the upcoming talks, the two Koreas will discuss a plan to conduct an on-site survey for a proposed special economic zone in Haeju and bilateral cooperation around the mouth of the Han River.