[National] Joint talks planned regarding Kim Dae Jung's visit to North

South Korea's Former President Kim Daejung(left) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jongil when the two leaders held a first-ever summit talks in Pyongyang Jun 15,2000. (Pyongyang=South Korean Press Corps)

Pyongyang has suggested that the two Koreas hold working-level talks on May 16 to discuss former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung's proposed visit to North Korea in June, Seoul's Unification Ministry said Friday.

North Korea suggested Mount Geumgang, a tourist resort on the North's east coast, as the venue for the negotiations, according to ministry spokesman Yang Chang-seok.

Yang said the Seoul government agreed to the North's proposal, adding that Pyongyang's delegation will be headed by Ri Jong-hyuk, vice chairman of North Korea's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which is in charge of inter-Korean cooperation projects.

He said a vice minister-level official will lead South Korea's delegation, which may also include a representative of former president Kim.

Seoul had proposed that Mr. Kim's plan to travel to the North via a restored railway between Seoul and Pyongyang be delayed from late April to June to avoid political misunderstandings related to the May 31 local elections.(Yonhap News Agency)