UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Wednesday the announcement of a planned summit meeting later this month between the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

    "The secretary-general believes that such a meeting offers a significant opportunity for the promotion of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean reconciliation," Ban's press office said in a statement.

    "He wishes to commend the two leaders for their initiative and hopes that this positive development will give further impetus to the progress made recently within the framework of the six-party Talks," it added.

    The DPRK and South Korea have agreed to hold the second Inter-Korean Summit in Pyongyang from August 28-30. The first summit was held in June, 2000, by then ROK President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il.