N Korea proposes resumed talks with S Korea

Hopes of reconciliation were high following an historic summit in June last year

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- For the first time since official talks were broken off, North Korea is suggesting a resumption of dialogue with South Korea.

A South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman confirmed that in a broadcast North Korea's Committee for National Reunification made the proposal to South Korean Unification Minister Lim Dong-won.

The broadcast message took place around 5:00 p.m. Sunday (0800 GMT).

South Korean officials said they were still studying the motives and implications of the message and therefore did not yet have an official reaction.

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However, the South Korean spokesman told CNN that the proposal seems to be a positive sign as North Korea had made no such offer since official dialogue was broken off about six months ago.

The broadcast also talked about the basic ideals of a summit between North and South Korean leaders that took place on June 15 last year.

That historic summit between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il raised hopes for reconciliation between the nations after decades of hatred since the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kim Jong-il has ignored a promise to return to Seoul for more talks since U.S. President George W. Bush took office earlier this year and put U.S.-North Korean relations on hold.

The North's proposal came a day before Chinese President Jing Zemin was to begin a three-day visit to North Korea, the first by a Chinese leader in nine years.

Chinese officials said Jiang would use the trip to urge North Korea to reopen dialogue with the South.