Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong says the government may consider exchanging special envoys with North Korea for inter-Korean summit talks.

Lee said Monday that the special envoys could also facilitate the improvement of inter-Korean relations in the wake of the North’s nuclear test last October.

However, the minister said that now is not the time to exchange special envoys, adding that the six-party nuclear talks call for undivided attention and that Pyongyang should also recognize the need for the envoys first.

Meanwhile, the nation's point man on North Korea underscored that the next inter-Korean summit would focus on realizing peace in Northeast Asia including a possible declaration that would end the Korean War. In addition, he said that the two Koreas should hold summit talks on a regular basis.

Lee said government-level assistance to the North could resume if progress is made in the six-way talks, and if Seoul and Pyongyang reach agreement through inter-Korean dialogue or if the public forms a consensus on sending humanitarian aid.

He also said that there are no signs to support recent talk that Pyongyang is preparing a second nuclear test.