Seoul Refuses Talks With N. Korea Without Denuclurization
South Korea has rejected another offer to meet with North Korea for inter-Korean talks. Seoul is standing firm and insisting that North Korea take the steps for denuclearization before continuing any further inter-Korean dialogue.
According to Yonhap News, North Korea proposed a working-level meeting for the end of May or early June to discuss the military.
"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," The South Korean defense ministry said.
The South Korean government suggested that the proposals to meet are insencere and a "propaganda ploy," Yonhap reports. They added that an honest request for cooperation would involve denuclerization.
"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.
Foriegn ministry spokesmen, Cho June-hyuck says that South Korea will continue to insist that North Korea desposes of their nuclear weapons.
"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," Cho said.
"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."
North Korean ended a four-day congress this month in which Kim Jong-un declared North Korea to be a nuclear weapon state in spite of international sanctions.
