ROK offers to DPRK for talks on Kaesong complex

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea's Unification Ministry in charge of inter-Korean relations said Monday that it has proposed to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for holding a sub-panel dialogue on travel, communication and customs of the Kaesong industrial complex on November 29.

Earlier Monday, the Unification Ministry sent a notice of such proposal through the joint management committee secretariat of the joint factory park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, the ministry said by phone.

The sub-committee meeting for travel, communication and customs has been suspended since the latest talks on September 13.

Seoul and Pyongyang had 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, was halted amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the DPRK canceled the reunion of separated families during the 1905-53 Korean War.

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

Following the five-month-long hiatus, Seoul and Pyongayng agreed to restart the joint factory park where around 120 South Korean companies run factories.

Under the agreement, the two Koreas should have held the sub-panel talks every month.