Seoul: North Korea agreed on Tuesday to hold
talks with South Korea this week, apparently signalling a wish
for better relations a day after it test-fired short-range
missiles.
Pyongyang accepted Seoul`s request for talks on flood
prevention on Wednesday and discussions on humanitarian issues
including family reunions on Friday, Seoul`s unification
ministry said in a statement.
It comes after the North fired five missiles yesterday
off its east coast, the first launch for more than three
months.
There are signs it is preparing later today to launch
more short-range missiles off its west coast, Yonhap news
agency reported.
South Korean officials normally describe the launches
as part of regular military exercises, although they are
sometimes timed to make a political point.
The North is under pressure to return to six-nation
nuclear disarmament talks that it quit in April.
For more than a year Pyongyang was bitterly hostile to
the South`s conservative government, which scrapped a
"sunshine" aid and engagement policy with its Communist
neighbour.
Relations were also strained by the North`s nuclear
and missile tests in the spring, but it began making peace
overtures in August.
Bureau Report
