Seoul again rejects Pyongyang’s proposal for inter-Korean talks

Foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) –South Korea again rejected North Korea’s proposal for inter-Korean dialogue on Tuesday, reiterating its firm stance that denuclearization steps should be a “top priority” in resuming any talks.

Earlier in the day, North Korea again proposed holding a working-level meeting with South Korea in late May or early June in preparation for military talks, following the same proposal made over the weekend.

“There is no change of position from our government that North Korea’s denucleartization should be the top priority in regard to any dialogue with North Korea,” South Korea’s defense ministry said.

The ministry said it received the message sent by the North’s Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces around 5:40 p.m. and the message was the same as the one received on Saturday.

“North Korea should show its determination for denucleratization and act on it if it sincerely wants peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula,” the ministry said, adding that Seoul will not reply to the second message.

The Seoul government earlier denounced the proposal as lacking sincerity, calling it a propaganda ploy.

Related to the North’s latest dialogue offensive, foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said Seoul will stick to its firm stance on denuclearization.

“If the North genuinely wants peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, it should refrain from threats and provocations, while showing its strong will for denuclearization,” the official told a regular press briefing held in Seoul.

The North’s latest proposals calling for dialogue with Seoul is in line with its leader Kim Jong-un’s offer to hold inter-Korean military talks made at the country’s recently concluded rare party congress.

During the four-day-long gathering that ended on May 9, Kim declared his country a “responsible” nuclear weapons state in a clear sign that he has no intention of abandoning its nuclear program.

“It would be just a typical charm offensive to talk about meetings while not mentioning anything about the nuclear issue that threatens the survival of Korean people and peace on the peninsula,” Cho said.

As for recent media reports that high-ranking North Korean officials have visited foreign countries, he said that it reflects Pyongyang’s efforts to get itself out of isolation from the outside world.

“But the isolation was self-inflicted. The only way out of it is to show its sincerity on denuclearization through action,” the ministry spokesperson said.