The South's proposals reflect efforts to solve "various pending issues," Seoul's unification ministry said.

Ties have been strained by the North's nuclear and missile tests this year.

Pyongyang has also been bitterly hostile to Seoul's conservative government, which scrapped a "sunshine" aid and engagement policy. But it began making peace overtures to Seoul in August.

The South proposed holding talks on Friday at the North's Mount Kumgang resort to discuss humanitarian issues such as more reunions for families separated since the 1950-53 war, said ministry spokesman Chun Hae-Sung.

Seoul also called for separate talks on Wednesday on ways to prevent floods in a cross-border river after six people were drowned in the South last month.

The North on September 6 released millions of tonnes of water from a dam across the Imjin river, sweeping away the South Koreans camping downstream.

The incident stirred anger in the South and threatened to damage newly improving relations.

The North said a sudden surge in the dam's water level prompted an emergency release. The South's Defence Minister Kim Tae-Young has said there was no evidence of a deliberate "water attack".

In recent weeks the North has freed five South Korean detainees, eased curbs on the operation of a joint industrial estate, sent envoys for talks with President Lee Myung-Bak and authorised a new round of family reunions.

Hundreds of separated relatives held reunions two weeks ago, the first such meetings in two years.

Tens of thousands of families have been separated since the Korean war sealed the division of the peninsula. There are no civilian mail or telephone services between the two countries.

Last week the North told visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao it was willing to return to the six-party nuclear disarmament talks it quit in April, but only after direct negotiations with the United States.

On Saturday the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea met in Beijing and urged the North's to return soon to the disarmament forum.

"Our government has a firm position that North Korea must come back to six-party talks soon," said spokesman Chun.

But Seoul is ready to deal with Pyongyang by considering "various circumstances" on the Korean peninsula, he said.

Wen said Saturday the North "not only hopes to improve its relations with the United States but also to improve relations" with Japan and South Korea.

Washington has said it is open to bilateral talks but only in order to bring the North back to six-party negotiations, which are hosted by China and also group the two Koreas, the United States, Russia and Japan.

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