Seoul offers to hold working-level talks with N. Korea to discuss Mt. Geumgang tours

Our top story this lunchtime...South Korea has suggested holding working-level talks with North Korea to discuss South Korean tours to the North's Mount Geumgang resort.Seoul's unification ministry says it sent a notice to Pyeongyang this morning through the joint liaison office.Seoul did not suggest a specific date or venue for the talks.The offer comes as a response to the North's notice last Friday that Seoul come to the resort and tear down its facilities.Seoul says that, because the area holds a lot of significance as a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, the matter requires both sides to meet face-to-face.Officials say they will be discussing (quote)"a new way forward" regarding the tours... and Hyundai Asan, the South Korean firm that's been the main operator of the tour business, will accompany the government officials to the talks.