The proposal announced by a spokesman of the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea came after it called for talks with South Korean authorities on Thursday.

　　The spokesman also said the DPRK will reopen the Panmunjom Red Cross liaison channel from 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT) on Friday.

　　"We appreciate the fact that the south side promptly and positively responded to the proposal made by us for holding talks between the authorities of both sides," he was quoted as saying.

　　The spokesman said that in view of the two sides' stalemated relations and increasing mistrust, working-level contacts between the DPRK and South Korea are necessary prior to ministerial-level talks proposed by Seoul.

　　South Korea said Thursday it wants to hold a ministerial-level dialogue with the DPRK on June 12 in Seoul in response to Pyongyang's proposal for holding official talks on reopening the Kaesong Industrial Zone.

　　Pyongyang shut down the industrial zone in early April and pulled out 53,000 DPRK workers. South Korea also withdrew its workers starting on April 26 after Pyongyang rejected Seoul's proposal for working-level talks.

　　The Kaesong Industrial Zone, which is under the joint management of South Korea and the DPRK and a key symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation, is facing its worst crisis since it opened in late 2004.

　　Related:

　　S. Korea wants to hold inter-Korean dialogue in Seoul next week

　　SEOUL, June 6 (Xinhua) -- South Korea said Thursday it wants to hold a ministerial-level dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on June 12 in Seoul in response to DPRK's proposal to hold official talks on reopening a joint industrial zone, according to Yonhap news agency.

　　"(The government) suggests ministerial-level South-North talks on June 12 in Seoul in order to resolve issues of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the Mt. Kumgang resort and separated families, " Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a news conference.  Full story

　　DPRK proposes direct talks with South Korean authorities

　　PYONGYANG, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday proposed holding direct talks with South Korea on issues including the normalization of the operation in the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) and the resumption of tour of Mt. Kumgang, the official KCNA news agency reported.

　　The four-point proposal was made by the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) in a special statement issued by its spokesman. Full story

　　S. Korea agrees to talk with DPRK

　　SEOUL, June 6 (Xinhua) -- South Korea agreed Thursday to an earlier proposal by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( DPRK) for official talks.

　　The South Korean government "positively views North Korea (DPRK) 's proposal on official talks," the Unification Ministry said in a statement. "We hope that South and North Korea can build trust through this opportunity."