The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday proposed to South Korea working-level talks from May 16 to May 17 at its southern city of Kaesong to improve their ties.

The proposal was made by the DPRK's chief delegate to the inter- Korean ministerial meeting, Senior Councilor of Cabinet Kwon Ho- Ung, to his South Korean counterpart, Unification Minister Chung Dong-Young.

In a telephone message to Chung, Kwon said the DPRK side is not satisfied with the current inter-Korean relations. The fifth anniversary of the inter-Korea summit is drawing near.

"To our regret, the relations have not yet departed from confrontation, contrary to the basic spirit of the joint declaration (of the summit talks)," the message said, adding that "this greatly disappoints all the fellow countrymen."

The June 15, 2000 summit between the leaders of South Korea and the DPRK ended with a pledge to promote peace and reconciliation.

Urging both sides to remain true to "the idea of by our nation itself" and calling for an earlier comeback to the normal track of the inter-Korea relations, Pyongyang pledged to send three delegates and three suite members to Kaesong from May 16 to May 17 for the working-level talks between the two sides.

Pyongyang "looks forward to a positive response from the South side," Kwon said.

Kwon also suggested "technical issues" be discussed at the talks between liaison officials of the two sides at the truce village of Panmunjom.

The talks, if taking place, would be the first inter-Korean governmental contact since the 14th inter-Korean Ministerial Talks ended in May last year and the inter-Korean military working-level contacts in late June last year.

Source: Xinhua