S.Korea offers talks with DPRK on issues of mutual concern

South Korea's top policymaker in charge of inter-Korean relations said Monday that he has offered to hold a dialogue in January next year with the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK) about issues of mutual concern.

"The Preparatory Committee for Reunification officially proposes to the North (DPRK) holding talks about issues of mutual concern in January next year,"Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a surprise press briefing.

Ryoo acts as one of vice chairmen of the committee along with Jeong Jong-wook. President Park Geun-hye is the committee's chairman.

Ryoo said South Korea has sent a notice for the dialogue offer, expressing hopes for the DPRK to actively respond to the proposal. Enditem