SEOUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's top diplomat on Monday stressed the need for direct talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States to improve inter-Korean relations.

Foreign Minster Kang Kyung-wha told a forum in Seoul that there seemed a high possibility for the resumed talks between South Korea and the DPRK to continue.

Kang, however, noted that unless any progress is made in efforts to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, any progress in the inter-Korean talks and relations cannot be made.

To improve inter-Korean ties, she said, direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington should be held. The foreign minister emphasized the importance for a virtuous cycle of inter-Korean talks leading to the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.

Her comments coincided with South Korean President Moon Jae-in's dispatch of special envoys earlier in the day to Pyongyang for talks with senior DPRK officials about a broad range of issues, including conditions for the possible DPRK-U.S. dialogue.

Kang said the dialogue momentum, created by the Winter Olympics, needed to be maintained, noting that South Korea should seek an opportunity to encourage the United States and the DPRK to start the denuclearization talks.

The dialogue mood was created on the Korean Peninsula as the DPRK participated in the South Korea-hosted winter sports event, which ended late last month.

The high-ranking DPRK delegation to the Olympic closing ceremony said Pyongyang was open to a dialogue with Washington.

The South Korean special envoys allegedly planned to visit Washington within this week to share the result of their DPRK visit with White House officials.