S Korea gov't open to inter-Korean summit: Unification Minister

South Korea's unification minister said Friday that his government is open to an inter-Korean summit, although he couldn't give details on whether the two Koreas are in the process of setting up the negotiation table.

"With respect to the summit, we need to take various conditions such as progress on the North Korean (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) nuclear issue and whether the inter-Korean relations will be able to develop sincerely," South Korean Unification Minister Hyun In-taek told lawmakers during the annual parliamentary audit of the ministry's affairs.

However, Hyun was reluctant to give comments on recent media reports that the two Koreas are secretly having contacts to discuss over an inter-Korean summit, the first since the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak regime if held.

President Lee Myung-bak earlier said he is willing to meet DPRK top leader Kim Jong-il any time, promising a "transparent" process while pushing for any inter-Korean summit, unlike the previous administrations.

In August, Lee met with high-level DPRK delegation who paid a consolatory visit to Seoul upon the funeral of the late President Kim Dae-jung, which added to media speculation that the two sides were imminent to seek for an inter-Korean summit.

Expectations on the inter-Korean summit hiked last week when a senior Pentagon official said that the DPRK proposed an inter-Korean summit, which the White House immediately downplayed, saying there was "misunderstanding" in communication with the South Korean government.

However, since the U.S. report, local media reports have also been poured on secret meeting held overseas between high-level officials of both sides, drawing more attention to the issue from in and out of the country.

Meanwhile, the DPRK's main newspaper, Rodong Shinmun, also hinted at the fact that the two Koreas are working to arrange the top-level talks.

Amid escalating speculation, the two Koreas are said to be left with more consultations to narrow differences over the timing, venue, and agenda of the possible summit, local Yonhap News Agency said, citing its source.

While Pyongyang wishes to hold a summit again in its territory due to security concerns for its leader, Seoul is claiming that itis South Korea's turn to decide the venue.

As there are striking differences, the government will have to continue contact with the DPRK, the government source requesting anonymity was quoted as saying by Yonhap, adding that the summit is likely to be held after local elections in June next year.

Source:Xinhua