South Korean President Park Geun-hye Monday said that Seoul will always be ready for dialogue with North Korea.
Park made the remarks during the second session of the presidential preparatory committee for the unification of the two Koreas, Xinhua reported.
The first session was held in August.
"As a proverb says 'it needs dialogue even during war', talks should continue between the two Koreas for easing tensions and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula," Park said.
The president said expectations for improved inter-Korean relations rose after the top-level North Korean delegation's visit to South Korea during the closing of the Incheon Asian Games.
Park, however, noted that the situation on the peninsula became destabilised after the two Koreas exchanged gunfire October 10, near the military demarcation line.
On October 4, North Korea and South Korea had agreed to hold a second round of senior-level dialogue in late October or early November.