South Korean officials say North Korea has agreed to hold talks Tuesday in preparation for the countries' second summit in more than 50 years.
Officials say North Korea has proposed holding the meeting in its border city of Kaesong.
Representatives plan to work out an agenda for the summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
The three-day summit is scheduled to open on August 28 in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
South Korea's former unification minister says he believes the North Korean leader will use the summit to secure economic and security guarantees.
North and South Korea leaders last held talks in 2000, at the first inter-Korean summit since their 1950's war, which ended in an armistice.
Meanwhile, South Korea says it will delay upcoming military drills in a bid to improve conditions for the summit.
South Korea had planned the drills to coincide with joint U.S. - South Korean military exercises set for the last two weeks in August.
But Defense Ministry officials in Seoul said Monday the South Korean drills will take place after the North and South Korean leaders meet. The joint exercises will go ahead as scheduled.