By Yi Whan-woo

Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon proposed Tuesday holding high-level talks with North Korea, Jan. 9, to discuss its participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Cho's offer came in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's New Year's message, in which he said he was willing to send a delegation of athletes to the South's first Winter Olympics.

Minister Cho suggested holding the cross-border dialogue at the truce village of Panmunjeom. He said Seoul is open to discuss the timing, venues, methods and other preparatory steps regarding the talks with Pyongyang.

"We propose to hold high-level talks on Jan. 9 at the Peace House (on the South Korean side of Panmunjeom)," Cho said during a press conference at the ministry in downtown Seoul. "We're willing to talk with the North freely over the necessary steps both sides must take. To do so, the dialogue channel at Panmunjeom should be restored promptly. We expect to hear a positive response from the North soon."

If North Korea accepts, this will be the first cross-border dialogue since President Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017. It will also be the highest-level contact between the two Koreas since December 2015 when vice minister-level officials met.

The two Koreas may exchange their ideas on the possible agenda, their respective representatives and other relevant issues.

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Cho, however, said it is too early to pre-determine what North Korea will be interested in.

"We just hope the possible dialogue will help restore cross-border ties in the future," he said.

With a little more than a month remaining before the Winter Games, Kim abruptly mentioned sending a delegation to the sporting event Monday in a possible bid to ease his country's isolation.

Cho said Seoul did not consult with Pyongyang in advance before offering to hold high-level talks.

"We made our offer solely based on Kim's New Year's address," he said.

He added that the Moon administration opted for high-level dialogue among many levels of talks, considering cross-border relations have been suspended for years and also that Kim suggested the officials from the two sides "meet urgently."

Cho's proposal came amid debate over whether springtime military exercises between South Korea and the United States should be held off until after the Olympics.

The timing of the two parallel drills -- Key Resolve and Foal Eagle -- overlaps the Winter Games, slated for Feb. 9 to 25. The South hoped that postponing the exercises could induce North Korea to participate in the Olympics.

Cho said Seoul and Washington have discussed Kim's offer for talks.