North Korea has proposed sending higher-level chief delegates to the inter-Korean general-grade military talks set to open next week.

A government official in Seoul said Friday that the North sent a letter Thursday asking that the chief delegates to the talks comprise major general-level officers rather than the brigadier generals originally planned to head the delegations.

The official said that the North is planning to send Lieutenant General Kim Young-chul as its top negotiator to the talks, adding that Kim is assumed to be the head of a department in charge of guarding and escorting North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Lieutenant general in the North Korean military is equivalent in rank to major general in the South Korean military.

The official said the North’s proposal is regarded as a positive move that may signal the willingness of the communist state to carry out active discussions on the prevention of naval skirmishes.

Top military officials from the two sides will meet for two days from next Thursday at Tongilgak Pavilion on the northern side of the border truce village of Panmunjom.