North Korea proposed South to start "unconditional and early" talks between the countries, Yonhap news agency said citing a statement from the North.
North Korea is "ready to meet anyone anytime anywhere" and called for "unconditional and early opening of talks" among officials with "real power and responsibility," the North said in a joint statement adopted in a meeting of the North Korean government, political parties and social organizations held in Pyongyang.
"We courteously propose having wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations with the political parties and organizations of South Korea including its authorities," the statement continued.
The Foreign Ministry of Japan on Monday dismissed information that its head Seiji Maehara in an interview with a South Korean paper has expressed hopes for security alliance with Seoul, the Japanese news agency Kyodo said.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense after Pyongyang shelled South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island in November, killing four people.
In December, Seoul held large-scale military drills involving hundreds of military personnel and more than 100 types of weapons, including tanks, anti-tank missiles, helicopters and fighter jets. North Korea then warned its opponent of a possible "holy war" using its nuclear deterrent.
MOSCOW, January 5 (RIA Novosti)
