By Chung Min-uck
South and North Korea will hold working-level talks Wednesday on restarting the long-stalled inter-Korean family reunion program, the Ministry of Unification said Monday.
The ministry said that Pyongyang responded to Seoul's proposal of holding working-level Red Cross talks, breaking a week of silence after an offer was made.
The North's proposal included a preparatory meeting for Wednesday or Thursday at Seoul's convenience to be held in the village of Panmunjeom on the North's side.
In response, Seoul chose Wednesday.
"We welcome the North's response, albeit belatedly," said ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do during a regular briefing. "Factoring in the urgent nature of the issue, we vow to prepare for the reunions as early as possible."
The South proposed a Jan. 27 meeting to prepare for the reunions for Feb. 17 to 22 at Mt. Geumgang, a scenic resort on North Korea's east coast.
The North also, in its latest response, did not elaborate on the schedule of the expected family reunions, causing experts to doubt whether the reunions would be held as planned.
Experts say that during the working-level meeting the North could possibly propose holding the reunions in April after a joint military exercise between South and Korea and the U.S., slated for late this month, comes to an end.
The North recently repeatedly called on the South to cancel the joint military exercises.
Seoul and Washington have announced their intention to go ahead with their joint exercises, describing them as defensive in nature.
South and North Korea will hold working-level talks Wednesday on restarting the long-stalled inter-Korean family reunion program, the Ministry of Unification said Monday.
The ministry said that Pyongyang responded to Seoul's proposal of holding working-level Red Cross talks, breaking a week of silence after an offer was made.
The North's proposal included a preparatory meeting for Wednesday or Thursday at Seoul's convenience to be held in the village of Panmunjeom on the North's side.
In response, Seoul chose Wednesday.
"We welcome the North's response, albeit belatedly," said ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do during a regular briefing. "Factoring in the urgent nature of the issue, we vow to prepare for the reunions as early as possible."
The South proposed a Jan. 27 meeting to prepare for the reunions for Feb. 17 to 22 at Mt. Geumgang, a scenic resort on North Korea's east coast.
The North also, in its latest response, did not elaborate on the schedule of the expected family reunions, causing experts to doubt whether the reunions would be held as planned.
Experts say that during the working-level meeting the North could possibly propose holding the reunions in April after a joint military exercise between South and Korea and the U.S., slated for late this month, comes to an end.
The North recently repeatedly called on the South to cancel the joint military exercises.
Seoul and Washington have announced their intention to go ahead with their joint exercises, describing them as defensive in nature.
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