South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) opened a joint liaison office Friday for round-the-clock communications between the two sides.

　　The Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea is seen from the Taesungdong freedom village inside the demilitarized zone during a press tour in Paju, South Korea. The rival Koreas on Friday have opened their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges. [Photo: IC]

　　The opening ceremony was held at about 10:50 a.m. local time (0150 GMT) outside the liaison office building inside the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, according to a pool report of South Korean reporters cited by local media.

　　About 50 government officials and experts from the two sides attended the ceremony.

　　South Korea will station some 20 officials in the office, while the DPRK will deploy a similar number of officials there.

　　South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung will serve as a co-chief of the office, together with Jon Jong Su, vice chairman of the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

　　South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed to launch the office after their first summit on April 27.

　　The two leaders were scheduled to hold their third summit in Pyongyang for three days from Sept. 18.