Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Tuesday disclosed the details of the government's "important proposal" to North Korea after a National Security Council meeting.

In a news conference, Chung said the government will provide two million kilowatts of electricity to the North instead of two light-water reactors if Pyongyang gives up its nuclear program.

Seoul has spent 1.1 billion dollars on the construction of the reactors in Geumho, North Hamkyeong Province, but the project was suspended after the outbreak of the current nuclear crisis in 2003.

Chung said the government will also pay to replace and build power transmission facilities and transformers in the North for electricity provision by 2008.

In the NSC meeting, President Roh Moo-hyun said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s promise to return to the six-party nuclear talks will greatly contribute to building trust between the two Koreas.

Presidential spokesman Kim Man-soo said Roh also lauded officials' efforts to normalize inter-Korean relations and bring Pyongyang back to dialogue.

Roh said that though Seoul should not make hasty conclusions, he expressed optimism over resolving the nuclear issue.