N. Korea agrees to talks with South

North Korea agreed Tuesday to South Korea`s proposal for talks later this week on preventing floods of cross-border rivers and resuming reunions of separated families, government officials in Seoul said, Yonhap News reported.

The North`s latest reconciliatory gesture comes just one day after it abruptly test-fired five short-range missiles in the East Sea.

On Monday, the South Korean government sent a letter proposing working-level talks in the North`s border city of Kaesong Wednesday to discuss measures to prevent flooding of the Imjin River that runs along the western section of the inter-Korean border.

On a separate track, the South`s National Red Cross announced that its head, Yoo Chong-ha, sent a letter to his Northern counterpart Jang Jae-on proposing talks on Friday at the North`s Mount Kumgang resort to explore ways to resume cross-border family reunions.

Lee Jong-joo, a spokesperson at the South`s Unification Ministry, said the North has agreed to meet with Seoul officials on the proposed dates, but asked to hold both meetings in Kaesong.

The upcoming meetings come in light of thawing bilateral ties following the North`s shift to conciliatory diplomacy with the South and the United States.