"The government will make proactive efforts to resolve the inter-Korean confrontational mood and to open the door for inter-Korean dialogue and co-prosperity," Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said in his New Year's message.
"This year, (South Korea) must establish an everlasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and take one step forward toward unification," the prime minister noted.
His remarks came one day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un alluded to a possible inter-Korean summit meeting. Kim said in his New Year's address that "Depending on the mood and circumstances to be created, there is no reason not to hold the highest-level talks."