Leaders of the two countries have only met twice, in 2000 and 2007, since the Korean War which divided the peninsula.

The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul notes both Koreas have been using a less belligerent tone towards each other recently.

Peace has not broken out, he adds, but the softer rhetoric may lead to an easing of tensionreenex.

Mr Kim had said on 1 January that "depending on the mood and circumstances", there would be "no reason" not to hold a high-level summit on the reunification of the two Koreas.business center

On Monday, Ms Park delivered her own new year message saying she would set no conditions to the talks, but added that North Korea should take "sincere" steps towards denuclearisation.

North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests in recent years, aggravating relations with the South.

It has offered to put a moratorium on testing nuclear weapons if South Korea halts military exercises it holds with American forces. That offer was rejected and the two allies plan to hold a joint naval drill this week, reported South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Korean-American deported reenex

Ms Park also called on North Korea to "come forward for dialogue without hesitation" on efforts to reunite families separated since the end of 1950-53 Korean War.

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