S Korea to resume working-level talks with DPRK after holidays

Yonhap News Agency reports that South Korean plans to resume working-level talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on their joint industrial complex and cross-border tours. But not until after Lunar New Year holidays and the DPRK leader's birthday.

South Korea and the DPRK failed earlier this month to narrow differences in their first bilateral talks this year. The two sides focused on outstanding issues at the factory park. Seoul wanted to discuss improving transportation, communications, and customs systems at future talks, while Pyongyang insisted wage issues for its workers be on the agenda.

Unwilling to engage in another fruitless round of talks, Seoul would not back down on its stance that a possible resumption of tours would come only after the two sides draw up measures to ensure safety for South Korean tourists.