S.Korea to press North for talks, seeks U.S. help

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Reuters

31 Dec 2008 03:10:23 GMT
Source: Reuters

SEOUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - South Korea wants to resume frozen talks with North Korea next year and bolster its ability to keep an eye on its communist neighbour by working closely with the new Obama administration, policy papers on Wednesday said.

Ties between the Koreas crumbled over the past year, with the North lashing out at the South's president for ending what had once been a free flow of unconditional aid.

Seoul has instead linked handouts to progress Pyongyang made in nuclear disarmament.

"The government will sincerely urge North Korea to respond to our suggestions for inter-Korean dialogue," the Unification Ministry said in a policy plan for the new year it released with the defence and foreign ministries.

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