Pyongyang agreed to hold high-level inter-Korean talks on January 9 in the Southern part of Panmunjom, as proposed by Seoul on Tuesday, the South Korean unification ministry said on Friday morning.

Confirmation of Pyongyang’s participation came three days after the Ministry of Unification (MOU) suggested that the North join high-level talks with the South in response to Kim Jong Un’s call for the two Koreas to meet in his New Year’s Speech.

Baik Tae-hyun, spokesperson of South Korea’s unification ministry, said the North sent a fax to the South on Friday at 10:16 KST to confirm its participation.

“[North Korea]