South Korea has proposed a meeting with Pyongyang one day after North Korea threatened to shut down all overland passage across the inter-Korean border December first.

The Defense Ministry said Thursday it proposed the meeting to discuss the South's provision of material and equipment to the North to help modernize its military communication lines.

In a statement, the ministry also expressed the government's deep regret over Pyongyang's threat to close the inter-Korean border.

The statement outlined Seoul’s past and future efforts to halt the dissemination of anti-communist leaflets to North Korea by South Korean civic organizations.

The ministry also urged Pyongyang to work for co-prosperity, co-existence and improved South-North relations through dialogue and cooperation.