The two Koreas began working-level talks to discuss North Korea's participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics shortly after 10 a.m. Monday. 

South Korea's chief delegate Lee Woo-sung told reporters before departing for the Panmunjeom truce village that the delegation will engage in talks in a calm manner to produce good results.

The head of the culture and arts policy office at the Culture Ministry said the two sides will discuss working-level issues regarding the North's plan to send its art performers to the Olympics. 

South and North are holding the talks at Tongilgak, a North Korean building in the truce village.

They are expected to discuss issues including the size of the North's art troupe, a route by which they will travel southward and detailed performance schedules.
 
The South Korean delegates include chief executive of the Korean Symphony Orchestra Lee Won-choul, its artistic director Chong Chi-yong, and Han Jong-wook, who heads an inter-Korean dialogue division under the Unification Ministry's Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue.

The North earlier offered to send four arts officials, led by Kwon Hyok-bong, director of the performing arts bureau at the culture ministry. The North's delegation also includes Hyon Song-wol, the leader of the all-female Moranbong Band, and stage manager An Jong-ho.

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