SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A group of South Korean officials visited the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday for joint inspection of forests in the DPRK side, according to local media reports.

Twelve South Korean officials, led by a high-level Korea Forest Service official, crossed the military demarcation line (MDL) earlier in the day via the eastern route along the coast to get to the Mount Kumgang.

The officials would conduct a joint inspection of the Mount Kumgang areas with DPRK officials and discuss ways to protect forests from harmful insects and diseases.

The South Korean officials are scheduled to return home later in the day.

The visit is a follow-up measure to the agreement reached during the inter-Korean working-level talks in July to increase forest cooperation between the two Koreas.