North Korean government and civilian delegations arrived in South Korea Sunday morning to attend the joint celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

The 17-member North Korean government delegation is led by Kim Ki-nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the North Korean Worker's Party.

Other members include Choi Sung-chul, vice chairman of Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and Lim Dong-ok, vice chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

Meanwhile, some 170 North Korean civilian delegates flied to Seoul Sunday to attend various celebration events, which started Sunday.

The North Korean delegations both flied to South Korea's Incheon International Airport aboard two North Korea's Koryo Airlines flights.

Anniversary programs include unification march, men's and women's football games and various cultural events, according to events schedules.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)