Delegates of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to a joint celebration of the 60th anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule here visited the South Korean National Assembly on Tuesday.

Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the DPRK's Worker's Party, and several other delegates, including Lim Dong-ok, vice chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, paid a courtesy call on South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim One-ki earlier Tuesday, reported the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

It is the first time that DPRK officials have visited the DPRK parliament.

Kim One-ki stressed the need to hold inter-Korean parliamentary talks during his one-hour meeting with the DPRK delegates, according to the speaker's public relations official Kim Key-man.

"I believe the National Assembly must do its part to help improve the relationship between North Korea (DPRK) and South Korea. And I believe dialogue between (the countries') lawmakers are crucial to achieve that end," Kim One-ki said.

While, as a member of the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly, Lim Dong Ok said that the parliaments of the two sides remain "very far apart" despite increased exchanges between the countries' governments and peoples.

Kim One-ki also called for efforts to resolve the ongoing nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, saying the countries must work to improve what he called "international conditions" surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

"Improved international conditions are especially important and needed (for improved inter-Korean relations)," Kim said, adding, " Therefore, the fourth round of six-party talks to be resumed in Beijing at the end of the month is a very important moment in our nation's history."

The DPRK government and civilian delegations, 182 members in total, arrived in Seoul on last Sunday to attend a series of joint celebration events with South Korean delegates to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation from the Japanese colonial rule.

The DPRK delegations are to return to Pyongyang on Wednesday.

Source: Xinhua