North Korea Renews Overture to South Korea

Photo Courtesy - Yonhap News Agency(SEOUL, South Korea) -- The North Korean government of Kim Jong-il  on Saturday renewed its New Year's Day offer of peace talks with its neighbor to the South.  Pyongyang says the offer is unconditional and aimed at peace and reconciliation.  North Korea would like the talks to begin as early as late January or the beginning of February.

This comes six weeks after North Korea shelled a South Korean Island, killing four people in an attack it said was in retaliation for South Korean military drills in waters the North claims as its own.

South Korea, which rejected the earlier call, says it will review this request.  South Korean Unification Ministry Spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said, "It is still hard to say North Korea has made an official proposal for talks...but as today's statement contains more details, we will review it."

South Korea has said it will hold talks with North Korea only if it exhibits sincerity.

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