North Korea has written to political leaders in the south, including the president-elect, saying it's ready for a dialogue with the new South Korean government which takes office next week.
Seventy letters from the north to South Korean political parties and organisations were conveyed through the Red Cross at a meeting in the village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone.
The new South Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung, has already said he favours better relations with the Communist North.
The BBC correspondent in Seoul says the North Korean offer is being viewed cautiously in the south, though any positive move is welcomed.
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