ROK refuses DPRK's proposal for talks
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South Korea on Monday refused dialogue proposals formally put forward by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in official messages, urging Pyongyang to adopt "responsible attitude" first to its recent provocations.
The remarks came after Seoul received official messages from the DPRK earlier in the day, in which Pyongyang urged government- level talks and Red Cross dialogue as soon as possible.
In the letters sending via Panmunjom channels on Monday, Pyongyang proposed holding working-level government contact in its border city of Kaesong on Jan. 27 to discuss the venue and date for future higher level government talks, and holding Red Cross dialogue on Feb. 1 in South Korean border city of Munsan, Seoul's Unification Ministry said in a press release.
Pyongyang also said that it will reopen Red Cross liaison office at the truce village of Panmunjom and the economic negotiation office in Kaesong as of Wednesday.
In response, Seoul's Unification Ministry said Pyongyang put forward the dialogue proposals "just for the purpose of getting economic assistance and aid," as it made no reference in the messages to killing of a South Korean tourist at Mount Kumgang area, sinking of the warship Cheonan and the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island.
Calling Pyangyong's proposals "false peace offensives" and " strategy aiming to divide South Korea", the ministry reiterated its government's position, noting that the DPRK must adopt " responsible attitude" first to admit its sinking of the Cheonan frigate and attack on the Yeonpyeong Island, as well as show its sincerity on denuclearization.
To this end, Seoul proposes holding a government-level meeting focusing on the DPRK's provocative moves, the ministry said.
Seoul will not consider the proposals unless Pyongyang meets these prerequisites, it added.
The DPRK made a series of conciliatory gestures recently, repeating call for unconditional and early inter-Korean talks to help defuse cross-border tension, heightened by a series of South Korean military drills following the mysterious sinking of a South Korean warship in March and the exchange of artillery shelling near the disputed maritime border in November.
But Seoul insists Pyongyang should display sincere attitude first on inter-Korean talks and inter-Korean relations.
