Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said that North Korea should accept South Korea’s proposal for high-level talks regardless of the framework and the format of dialogue.

The minister made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with a panel of government officials under the Presidential Preparatory Committee for Unification.

Ryoo said that Monday's proposal represents the South’s sincere intent to resolve inter-Korean issues through dialogue.

The minister said that the government's intent is to make a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations next year and pave the way for reunification as 2015 marks the 70th year since the division of the Korean Peninsula.

In the meeting, the participants also discussed ways to carry out the government’s major unification policies for next year, such as expansion of inter-Korean civilian exchanges, humanitarian issues and the envisioned peace park in the demilitarized zone (DMZ).