Presidential Chief of Staff Moon Jae-in said Thursday that President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il could discuss the disputed West Sea border during their summit talks next month.

Moon, who is overseeing the summit preparations, told a National Assembly committee that North Korea may raise the issue of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which has served as a de facto inter-Korean sea border for decades.

The remark is expected to spark controversy as Moon is said to have suggested that Seoul will not raise the sensitive issue first, but is willing to talk about it if Pyongyang broaches the subject.

The presidential aide also hinted that if the North does bring up the issue, the South may respond by proposing the creation of a joint fishing area as an alternative.