¡¡PYONGYANG, May 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea on Wednesday opened a ministerial meeting in Pyongyang's Koryo Hotel to discuss a range of inter-Korean issues including reducing military tensions between the twocountries.

    The 14th Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting is the first ministerial level talks between the north and the south following the convening of the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly and parliamentary elections in South Korea in March.

    Kwon Ho-ung, Chief Councilor of the DPRK Cabinet and head of the DPRK delegation, said in his keynote speech that the time is right to achieve progress in bilateral relations in accordance with the June 15 Joint Declaration.

    But he said that the US-South Korea joint military excises mustbe brought to an end in order to raise bilateral ties to a new level.

    If South Korea is truly willing to conduct dialogues and restart military talks with the DPRK, it should stop such militaryexcises and halt recent broadcasts "slandering the north", he said.

    South Korea's Unification Minister, Jeong Se-hyon, who led the South Korean delegation, proposed an early resumption of high level military talks to prevent possible clashes along the sea border between the two Koreas as fishing boats jostle for positionduring crab-catching season in May and June.

    He also conveyed his sympathy to victims of the recent Ryongchon explosion and promised help to the DPRK.

    Jeong hoped the upcoming six-party talks Beijing will succeed and move towards the means of resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.

    The South Korean delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday. Enditem