South Korean foreign minister on Tuesday played down the significance of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's trip to Pyongyang on the improvement of inter- Korean relations, describing him as a "third party".

"I personally doubt North Korea (DPRK) would send a message through a third party or civilians when various channels of dialogue between the North and us are open," foreign minister Kim Sung-hwan told a press briefing, referring to Carter's visit aimed at addressing issues including denuclearization.

"I don't believe there is a reason for North Korea and us to hold dialogue through a third party," Kim added, calling the visit a "purely private one."

Carter arrived in Pyongyang earlier Tuesday, accompanied by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former Irish President Mary Robinson and former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, all members of the group known as The Elders.

Whether they might meet with the DPRK leader, Kim Jong-il, has yet to be known.