Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok has proposed to North Korea a joint weather forecasting system to cope with natural disasters.

He made the proposal Friday in a 10-minute meeting with North Korean counterpart Kwon Ho-ung after arriving in Pyongyang for inter-Korean ministerial-level talks.

Lee said two Koreas should cooperate in guarding against seasonal disasters including forest fires and bird flu.

Kwon said he hopes the upcoming talks will bear solid fruit, saying the North is ready.