DPRK accepts S.Korea's offer to hold talks on Kaesong complex

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday accepted South Korea's offer to hold sub- panel talks on travel, communication and customs of the Kaesong industrial complex, Seoul's Unification Ministry said.

On Monday, the ministry sent a notice proposing to hold talks on travel, communication and customs of the joint factory park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong.

Pyongyang accepted the dialogue proposal earlier Tuesday, making it possible for the two Koreas to hold such dialogue on Friday, the first since Sept. 13, the ministry said by phone.

Seoul and Pyongyang have discussed the introduction of an electronic system to control passage of businessmen to and from Kaesong along with the usage of mobile phones and the Internet connectivity through the travel and communications sub-committee.

The discussion, however, is halted amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the DPRK canceled the reunion of separated families during the 1950-53 Korean War.

The two Koreas held working-level dialogue on three other subcommittees, including those for investment protection, internationalization and rules on staying in the complex, for two days through Nov. 14.

Meanwhile, the ministry said Seoul returned a DPRK fisherman, who was rescued in waters near the western sea border last Friday, back to the DPRK at around 12 p.m. through the truce village of Panmunjeom.