National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa on Friday proposed inter-Korean talks, saying he is willing to meet his North Korean counterpart any time and any place.

"I officially propose holding meetings of parliamentary speakers between the South and the North," Chung said in a speech at an event held at the National Assembly marking the 67th Constitution Day.

Chung said the best time is around Aug. 15, marking the 70th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, but Seoul is open to any time and any place that the North proposes.

Chung, who has expressed interest in such talks since taking office last year, proposed that he meet with Kim Yong-nam, the chairman of the Presidium of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly.

"I hope for a swift answer from the North," Chung said.

Chung further said the two parliamentary leaders will be able to discuss various pending issues, such as facilitating humanitarian aid to North Korea and exchanging ties in non-political ways.

Participants at the event included Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and chiefs of both the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy.

Chung's remarks come amid a halt in government-level dialogue between the rival Koreas, which remain technically in a state of war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Seoul recently said it is willing to have talks with Pyongyang as it does not see North Korea's denuclearization as a precondition for better inter-Korean ties.

North Korea's persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons and missiles is posing a threat to the divided peninsula. Despite lingering tension, Seoul earlier said that it plans to encourage civilian groups to increase humanitarian support to the North this year to promote national unity. (Yonhap)