By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

North Korea has accepted South Korea's proposals to hold inter-Korean talks this week over flood prevention and humanitarian issues, the Ministry of Unification said Tuesday.

The North's latest conciliatory gesture comes one day after it test-fired five short-range missiles off its east coast.

Pyongyang is showing signs of preparing another missile test off the west coast as it warned ships not to sail through waters off South Pyeongan Province, government sources said, adding that it could be part of a routine military exercise aimed at improving capability.

The action, however, would not affect the softened atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula, an official said.

"We found no difference between Monday's missile launch and previous test-firings of missiles," ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said. "There is, in my judgment, no problem holding the talks as planned."

On Monday, Seoul proposed two separate meetings - working-level talks today to discuss ways of preventing flooding of the Imjin River near the border, and Red Cross talks Friday on the resumption of family reunions and other humanitarian projects.

Pyongyang agreed to hold the meetings on the proposed dates, but asked for both to be held in Gaeseong.

The North discharged water from an upstream dam without any warning last month, which left six South Korean campers dead.

The South has called on the North to explain the sudden discharge and apologize for the tragic incident. But Pyongyang has remained silent.

At the upcoming Red Cross talks, the two sides are expected to discuss ways to hold displaced family reunions on a regular basis, and rice and fertilizer assistance to the North.

As for Monday's missile launch, the government is reviewing whether or not the firings violated a U.N. resolution.

"It is possible that North Korea's missile firing violated U.N. Resolutions 1695, 1718 and 1874, which ban all activities regarding ballistic missile launches," foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said.

He urged North Korea to abide by U.N. Security Council decisions.

The latest Resolution 1874, unanimously adopted by U.N. member states after North Korea conducted its second nuclear test in May, contains stronger sanctions such as searching cargo vessels suspected of carrying missiles and other weapons.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr