The pro-government Uri Party is preparing to launch inter-Korean parliamentary talks. The opening of talks between lawmakers of the two sides was one of the party's campaign pledges during the general election.

A party official said that it had formed an in-house panel to promote inter-Korean parliamentary consultations and that the panel would meet with officials of the Unification Ministry and the National Security Council Friday to discuss substantial measures for the launching of the parliamentary talks.

The party reportedly plans to send a telephone message to North Korea on Friday via a communication channel in Beijing secured by Uri Party legislator Bae Ki-sun back in 2002.