South Korea made its “final” proposal Monday for talks with North Korea over the fate of a shuttered joint industrial zone, officials said.

The offer came after six rounds of talks aimed at reviving the Seoul-invested Gaeseong complex produced little progress.

The South’s Unification Ministry said its proposal was sent through the border truce village of Panmunjeom, calling for a swift reply from the North.

“We once again urge North Korea to make the right choice for the normalization of Gaeseong and inter-Korean relations,” Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-suk told reporters.

The complex ground to a halt in April when Pyongyang withdrew all its 53,000 workers amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas.

The two sides have so far held six rounds of talks this month to resolve the issue, but besides agreeing in principle to reopen the zone, they failed to find common ground on preconditions to resuming operations.

Seoul has demanded Pyongyang’s assurance against another unilateral shutdown, while the communist country has insisted on an immediate resumption of the zone without conditions.

Seoul has warned of “grave” measures if Pyongyang fails to accept its demand. The ministry did not specify but hinted that the area may face a permanent closure.

The North has refused to take responsibility, arguing that its hand was forced by South Korea’s hostile attitude and joint military exercises with the United States.

In an apparent gesture to entice Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, Seoul on Monday approved the planned shipment of humanitarian aid for the impoverished North.

Five civic groups were allowed to send medicine, food and clothes worth 1.4 billion won ($1.25 million) to aid North Korean children.

Seoul also donated $6.04 million towards a project to help North Korean infants, which is supported by the UN Children’s Fund.

Seoul’s ruling and opposition parties expressed hope that Seoul’s latest proposal would lead to the reopening of the industrial complex.

“We hope the talks will proceed smoothly,” Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, said at a Supreme Council meeting.

“North Korea should take steps to ensure that the Gaeseong Industrial Complex meets international standards and continues to develop at a higher level,” he added.

Rep. Jun Byung-hun, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, called on both Koreas to “overcome all difficulties” in order to revive the factory zone.

However, he expressed concern over Seoul’s warning of “grave” consequences.

“If that refers to the closure of the complex, (the government’s) approach is too emotional and short-sighted,” he said at a party meeting.

The shutdown of the complex is estimated to have caused up to 1.05 trillion won ($935 million) in damages to the 123 South Korean firms operating in the factory zone.

(From news reports)