Talks to be held despite missile tests

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- North Korea and South Korea will hold talks on family reunions and flood prevention despite the North's missile tests, South Korean officials said Tuesday.

The talks are scheduled to be held this week in the North's border city of Kaesong, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea tested five short-range surface-to-surface KN-02 missiles off its east coast Monday and South Korean defense officials said they were believed to be the first such tests in three months. Yonhap quoted South Korean officials as saying the North's provocative moves would not affect the inter-Korean talks.

On the flooding issue, measures need to be taken to prevent cross-border flooding of the Imjin River, which runs along the western section of the inter-Korean border, the report said. Six South Korean campers died in September after the North's sudden water discharge from an upstream dam.

The South Korean National Red Cross will discuss with its counterpart in the North steps to resume cross-border family reunions.

Yonhap quoted Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao as telling South Korean and Japanese leaders at their weekend summit in Beijing that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il indicated a wish to improve relations with Seoul and Tokyo as well as Washington. Wen visited North Korea last week.

North Korea is under pressure to return to the six-nation talks on its denuclearization, which are currently stalled.