Seoul is preparing for Wednesday and Thursday's inter-Korean government meeting.

The Unification Ministry said Monday afternoon that it's establishing a meeting venue and a press room at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul.

A government official said North Korea has not yet sent the names of its officials to attend the talks, and explained Seoul wants a simultaneous exchange of delegate lists.

Concerning the heads of the delegations, a presidential office official said international standards must be applied and it would be difficult to build mutual trust if the stature of the delegation chiefs does not match between the two Koreas.

The remark is viewed as a sign that Seoul wants North Korea to send Kim Yang-gon, the head of the North's United Front Department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, to the talks.

Kim is considered the North Korean counterpart of South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae.

Earlier Monday, South and North Korea agreed to hold official government talks in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday after 17 hours of working-level contact.