The second preliminary talks for an inter-Korean prime ministers' meeting have been postponed to the end of the week.

According to the Unification Ministry, the North asked to delay the meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, citing internal difficulties.

Communicating through a liaison officer at the truce village of Panmunjeom, Pyongyang promised to notify Seoul of a new date for the preparatory contact, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday.

A Unification Ministry official said the prime ministers' talks will be held as scheduled, assuming that the North delayed this week's meeting due to failure to reach internal agreement on the agenda for the high-level talks.