SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will come to South Korea by plane to attend the 23rd Winter Olympics, Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday.

The DPRK notified South Korea of its ranking delegation's travel route and arrival time earlier in the day, the ministry said in a statement.

A private jet, carrying the DPRK delegation, is scheduled to arrive at the Incheon International Airport at 1:30 p.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Friday. The airport is located in South Korea's western port city of Incheon.

The DPRK jet, which will depart Pyongyang early Friday, will travel via a direct air route in the West Sea. The jet will not be on standby at the Incheon airport, but will come again on Sunday evening after going back to the DPRK.

The ranking DPRK delegation, led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, will stay in South Korea from Friday to Sunday to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics set to kick off on Friday at South Korea's eastern county of PyeongChang.

During their stay, the delegation was expected to meet with senior South Korean government officials, possibly also with the U.S. delegation led by Vice President Mike Pence.

Included in the DPRK delegation was Kim Yo Jong, the first vice director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). She is a younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

South Korea's presidential Blue House said the younger Kim's visit will have a more significant meaning.

The DPRK delegation also included Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.