South Korea has once again proposed the South and North hold working-level Red Cross talks to discuss inter-Korean family reunions. On Thursday, North Korea rejected Seoul's proposal for talks made earlier this week.

The Unification Ministry said a letter signed by the head of the South Korean Red Cross was sent to the North's Red Cross chief on Friday morning through a border-liaison office at the truce village of Panmunjeom.

In the letter, the government said family reunions must not be suspended over political and military circumstances. It also called on Pyongyang to positively respond to the proposed Red Cross meeting as soon as possible.

The ministry said it also expressed regret over the North's rejection of Seoul's previous offer for talks, noting Pyongyang had agreed during a Red Cross contact early last month to continue holding working-level talks after the family reunion event.