South Korea has welcomed a North Korean proposal to revive diplomatic talks.
North Korean ruling party officials confirmed to state media there was a need for inter-government talks to uphold the North-South summit agreement of June 2000.
South Korea's Unification Ministry said the North's statement was a positive development.
Ties between the two Koreas, which remain technically at war since the 1950-3 war, stalled last year after unprecedented exchanges in 2000, including a summit in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
North Korea also halted projects agreed at Mr Kim Dae-jung's June 2000 summit with North Korean leader Mr Kim Jong-il.
Since the summit, there have been 21 North-South meetings including ministerial talks and many agreements, but none of the important projects have been finished, said Mr Park Jae-kyu, a former unification minister.
From last June, the Bush administration has offered to meet North Korea anywhere and at any time without preconditions. US President Bush will visit South Korea, Japan and China next month.
Diplomats from the United States and Japan will meet South Korean officials in Seoul on Friday for talks on coordinating policy toward North Korea.