The South Korean government appears to be considering holding comprehensive talks with North Korea on a wide range of inter-Korean issues covering separated families and current sanctions placed on the North.  
  
Speaking to reporters on Friday at the southern resort island of Jeju, a ranking South Korean official stressed on the need to spur efforts to resolve the issue of separated families of the Korean War. The official said the South is willing to actively consider what it can give to the North to resolve the issue. 
 
The official then elaborated if inter-Korean talks are held, the two sides can discuss lifting the so-called May 24 sanctions that Seoul slapped on Pyongyang following the North’s sinking of the South’s Cheonan warship in 2010.
 
Adding that discussions could serve as a turning point to actually removing punitive measures, the official made it clear that the sanctions will only be lifted after the North takes responsible steps for the sinking.
 
The official said, regardless of who is to blame, the fact that inter-Korean relations have experienced strains for an extended period of time is regretful and expressed strong determination toward opening negotiations.