The government is said to have proposed a joint survey with North Korea to identify sites for a joint fishing zone in the West Sea.

A Seoul official said that Pyongyang has yet to respond to the offer on the fishing area, which would form the core of a so-called "peace zone" agreed at October's inter-Korean summit.

The official said that if the fishing zone's location is determined at the ongoing inter-Korean general-level talks, the two Koreas will be able to decide where to conduct the survey. If not, the two sides will hold separate discussions to make a decision.

Seoul is also said to have suggested joint surveys for the mouth of the Han River, the port of Haeju and a proposed Haeju special economic zone.