The South Korean side includes Shin Kak-soo, former ambassador to Japan; Shin Jung-seung, former ambassador to China; Prof. Kim Joon-hyung of Handong Global University; and other academics, the sources said.

Initially, the North and the US sides had planned the meeting between themselves before additionally inviting the South Korean delegation early this year, they noted.

"The meeting had been initially designed as a venue to discuss ways to ease tensions but is likely to discuss summit meetings as the situation has evolved," Prof. Kim told Yonhap News. "During the 1 1/2-day meeting, the discussion will start from scratch without any keynote speeches."

The latest forum could serve as a chance to prepare for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's summits planned with President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump in April and May.

The South Korean and US experts may want to sound out the North's intentions regarding how far the country is willing to go in denuclearization before the state leaders officially negotiate the denuclearization issue in the summits.

The US delegation is presumed to play a role in bridging Washington and Pyongyang ahead of the summit, although how effective they will be remains to be seen given that the former officials and academics have previously worked with US Democratic administrations.

The three sides will also discuss whether to continue to hold the semiofficial meeting on a regular basis, the sources said. (Yonhap)