The two Koreas are seeking to hold general-level military talks next month to discuss the proposed establishment of joint fishing zones in waters around the western sea border.

A government source said Friday that Seoul is hoping to hold the talks before the end of this year.

At inter-Korean defense ministers' talks that ended Thursday, the two sides failed to reach an agreement on joint fishing zones but agreed to discuss it at general-level talks.

But it is unclear if the two sides could reach an agreement at general-level talks after their defense chiefs failed to do so.