SEOUL - Republic of Korea (ROK) accepted Wednesday a proposal by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to hold Red Cross talks over humanitarian issues, Seoul's unification ministry, which overseas inter-Korean affairs, said in a briefing.

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ROK's Red Cross accepted the proposal earlier in the day in a message delivered to its counterpart north of the border and suggested discussing details of the talks after the two sides end separate working-level military talks currently underway, ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-ju told reporters in the press briefing.

"The government is aware of the importance and the urgent need to address humanitarian issues "including reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, Lee said.