SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua)-- A South Korean delegation left for Pyongyang on Tuesday to resume the Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting and discuss issues including inter-Korean exchanges and economic cooperation with officials in Pyongyang.

"The meeting is to create the future of the Korean people and the hope of the Korean Peninsula," said Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung before departing for the airport.

"We will also focus on normalizing the framework of inter-Korean dialogue and discuss ways of establishing a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee said.

South Korean Vice Finance Minister Chin Dong-soo, Vice Culture Minister Park Yang-woo accompany Lee's visit to Pyongyang.

It was the highest level government dialogue between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since DPRK launched nuclear tests in last October despite Seoul's strong opposition. Seoul has suspended government economic aids to Pyongyang since then.

According to the Unification Ministry, the delegation will stay in Pyongyang until Friday. During the four-day visit, the delegation will attend the ministerial meeting and hold talks with DPRK officials.

Seoul hopes to use the revived process of inter-Korean reconciliation to solidify Pyongyang's commitment to its nuclear disarmament, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said.

It will be 20th Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting since the two sides held the first-ever Inter-Korean Summit in June 2000.