North Korea proposes talks with South Korea

North Korea Thursday proposed holding talks with South Korea on various issues, the official KCNA news agency reported.

The proposal was made by North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) in a statement issued by its spokesman, reported Xinhua.

"We propose holding talks between authorities of the north and the south for the normalization of the operation in the KIZ (Kaesong Industrial Zone) and the resumption of tour of Mt. Kumgang on the occasion of the anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration," said the statement.

The June 15 declaration was issued at the historic 2000 summit meeting between late South Korean president Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. It led to a period of rapprochement between the two sides that saw large scale bilateral cooperation and the promotion of economic ties.

The CPRK also proposed realizing joint events to mark the 13th anniversary of the June 15 declaration and jointly commemorating the 41st anniversary of the July 4 joint statement on peaceful reunification in the presence of the authorities of both sides.