Former South Korean President Kim Dae- jung on Friday appealed that the leaders of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) hold another summit this year to ensure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Unification Ministry said.

"The inter-Korean dialogue should be held on a regular basis. I hope that a second summit, which has yet to materialize, will be held and bear good fruits," Kim, who made the first-ever visit as South Korean president to DPRK and held summit with DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-il in June 2000, said in a meeting with South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung.

"This year will be very important to establish peace on the peninsula. Now that six-party talks were resumed and dialogue between the North (DPRK) and the U.S. began, strained inter-Korean relations should make some headway," Kim said.

Kim was given the Nobel Peace Prize in late 2000 for his efforts to promote exchanges and reconciliation with DPRK as his first-ever summit with Kim Jong-il opens a new page for the inter- Korean relations.

Lee, who took office last month, visited Kim Dae-jong to express his New Year's greeting and exchange views on the inter- Korean ties with Kim, local media reports said.

The inter-Korean tie was strained last year when the DPRK launched missile tests in July and conducted nuclear tests in October despite South Korea's strong opposition. Local media has recently discussing on possibility of a new summit between Seoul and Pyongyang to break the stalemate on the nuclear issues and improve the inter-Korean relations.

Source: Xinhua