Seoul - South Korea on Monday proposed new rounds of talks with its northern neighbour, focusing on reuniting families and joint flood prevention.

A spokesman of the Unification Ministry in Seoul said a letter with the suggestion for working-level talks with officials from Seoul's Land and Transport Ministry on flood prevention was delivered to North Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Seoul proposed the talks take place Wednesday in the border city of Kaesong.

In early September six South Korean hikers died in an unannounced discharge by North Korea from a dam of the Imjin river, which runs along the border of the two countries.

At the same time the South's National Red Cross said it suggested a new round of talks on reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War to its northern counterpart.

Those talks could take place Friday at the North's Mount Kumgang resort. In September the first round of reunions took place following a two-year break.

The separated families have no other option to get in touch - there is no exchange of letters, phone calls or emails between North and South Korea without government approval.

Tension between the two Koreas has eased in recent months, with Pyongyang engaging in a more conciliatory approach towards its neighbour and the international community. (dpa)