2nd LD Writethru: S. Korea, DPRK to resume vice ministerial-level talks on Saturday

South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday failed to reach any agreement during the vice ministerial-level dialogue, agreeing to resume the talks on Saturday.

Three delegates from each side gathered in the DPRK's border city of Kaesong, kicking off the high-level dialogue from 10:40 a.m. local time (0140 GMT), according to South Korea's unification ministry.

During the 30-minute plenary talks, the two sides exchanged each other's position on issues to improve bilateral relations.

The second session among chief delegates, however, began seven hours or so after the plenary talks, indicating big differences over major issues. The second session continued for about four hours through 11 p.m.

South Korea has called for the DPRK to agree upon regular reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Pyongyang has wanted the resumption of tour to the DPRK's scenic resort of Mount Kumgang. The tour, launched in 1998, was suspended in July 2008 when a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by a DPRK solider after venturing into an off-limit area.

Seoul's three-member delegation was led by Vice Unification Minister Hwang Boo-gi, and his DPRK counterpart was Jon Jong-su, vice director of the secretariat of the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea. Enditem