ROK offers talks with DPRK on issues of mutual concern

SEOUL -- The Republic of Korea (ROK)'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) on 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 serves as one of the vice chairmen of the committee, launched earlier this year, along with Chung Chong-wook. The committee's inaugural session was chaired in August by President Park Geun-hye to draw up a blueprint for reunification with the DPRK.

Ryoo said South Korea has sent a notice for the dialogue offer, expressing hopes for the DPRK to actively respond to the proposal. The notice was sent to Kim Yang-gon, director of the DPRK's United Front Department in charge of Seoul-Pyongyang relations, under the name of Ryoo and Chung, former South Korean ambassador to China.

The proposed talks can be held in Seoul, Pyongyang or other places convenient for both sides, Ryoo said, noting that he and Chung hope to meet with the North side to relieve the sorrow of families, separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, before the Lunar New Year's holiday that falls in late February.

President Park has called the reunion of separated families as "urgent and important" in inter-Korean relations as time is running out due to their old age. Millions of Koreans have been separated since the three-year war ended in armistice in 1953.

Around 22,000 Koreans met their long-lost relatives through 19 rounds of family reunions from 1985 to 2014, but more than 70,000 South Koreans have been on the waiting list for reunion since 1988, with all applicants likely to pass away within 20 years for the old age. The latest round of family reunion was held in late February.