South Korean President Park Geun-hye met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday to discuss bilateral ties, presidential officials said.

"The two leaders exchanged opinions on their mutual interests, including the Palestinian situation," Presidential spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk said before the meeting.

Abbas arrived in South Korea earlier in the day for a three-day visit after traveling to Japan.

It marks the second visit by the leader to South Korea after the previous one in 2010.

Abbas is also scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa later in the day.

South Korea set up a diplomatic mission in Palestine in 2005, recognizing the Palestinian National Authority as the sole legitimate administrative organization to govern the area. (Yonhap)