The preparatory committee for the inter-Korean summit set for next month will hold its first full session at 3 p.m. on Friday at the presidential office.

The eight-member committee, headed by Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, is charged with making preparations and arranging consultations so that the summit will see the adoption of substantial accords on improving South-North ties. 

In its first session, the committee will focus discussions on how to pursue working-level talks with the North ahead of the summit. 

The session is also expected to touch on working-level steps related to establishing a communication hotline between the leaders of the two Koreas.

When President Moon Jae-in’s special envoys visited Pyongyang last week and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, an agreement was reached for the hotline to be set up so the two leaders would be able to speak over the phone ahead of their summit.