"The government proposes holding a senior-level inter-governmental dialogue of the South and the North (Koreas) on January 9 at the Peace House in Panmunjom," Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon told a press conference.
The Peace House is a building in Panmunjom controlled by South Korea, reports Efe news.
The dialogue overture comes a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year address that Pyongyang was willing to take necessary measures, including dispatch of delegation to the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics.
Cho anticipated that the two Koreas would frankly discuss issues of mutual concern, inter-Korean relations as well as the issue on North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in South Korea's PyeongChang county in February .
The minister said communication channels between the two Koreas in Panmunjom should be restored immediately to hold the inter-Korean, inter-governmental talks, suggesting to discuss details on the January 9 dialogue, such as setting agenda and forming delegations through the restored communication channels.
All inter-Korean communication channels have been severed since the previous South Korean government under impeached President Park Geun-hye decided unilaterally to close down the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January 2016.
(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
