Seoul proposes 5th ministerial-level talks

The government proposed to North Korea Tuesday that the fifth inter-Korean ministerial-level talks be held in Seoul for four days from March 13 to 16.

Unification Minister Park Jae-Kyu, South Korea`s chief delegate, made the proposal through a telephone message to his North Korean counterpart Jon Kum-Jin.

A government official said the two sides would discuss a wide range of pending issues, including the North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il`s upcoming visit to Seoul.

South and North Korea agreed in the fourth round of talks in Pyongyang in December to hold the fifth meeting in March.

Ha Tae-Won scooop@donga.com