A delegation of 30 South Korean Buddhist leaders will visit North Korea this week to attend a joint religious service, the unification ministry said Tuesday.
  

It said the government has approved the delegation's trip to the North's border town of Kaesong, slated for Wednesday, under a policy to support inter-Korean exchange in the non-political sector.
   
The joint ceremony to be held at the historic Yeongtong Temple in Kaesong is to mark the 9th anniversary of its restoration. It is also to commemorate the 912th anniversary of the passing of the legendary monk Uicheon.
   
The representatives from the Cheontae Order will cross the demilitarized zone around 9 a.m. and return to the South at 4 p.m., according to the ministry.
   
"The government has endorsed their visit, as the joint service is a pure religious event, which is part of social and cultural exchanges in the non-political and non-military field," it said. (Yonhap)