DPRK proposed working-level military talks: S.Korean gov't

SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has proposed working-level military talks over the joint industrial complex in the border town of Kaesong on Jan. 26, the South Korean government said Friday.

The DPRK suggested discussing transportation, communication and customs system at the industrial park jointly managed by the two Koreas, according to Seoul's Ministry of Unification.

The proposal comes shortly after the two sides wrapped up the first bilateral talks of the year on improving operations at the industrial park, with another round of such talks slated to be held on Feb. 1, which helped clear doubts that threats Pyongyang recently issued against Seoul might dampen the budding mood for dialogue.

The industrial park, which is under the joint management of the two Koreas, has been one of the key symbols of economic cooperation between the two countries, though worsening ties between the two have occasionally put operations there in danger.

Currently, some 110 South Korean companies are based in the complex, employing about 42,000 workers from the DPRK mostly producing labor-intensive goods.