North Korea has suggested delaying inter-Korean Cabinet-level discussions originally scheduled to be held early next month in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang said it hopes to hold the talks after the settlement of the "abnormal situation" in the South following parliament's unprecedented impeachment of President Roh.

Pyongyang's request came a day after a massive railway blast in the North reportedly left at least 54 people killed and 1,200 injured. Insiders believe that the accident could be related to the North's postponement request.

The talks, which are the highest channel of dialogue between the two divided Koreas, were scheduled to be held from May 4th to the 7th in Pyongyang.

In Seoul, a government official said that the South would analyze the reasons why the North made such a statement at this juncture, adding that the government would monitor developments in North Korea.