South Korea urges North Korea to respond to talks offer

Seoul, Jan 14: South Korea Wednesday urged North Korea once again to respond to its dialogue offer, media reported.

Unification ministry spokesperson Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing that the ministry has no plan to send an additional proposal to North Korea for inter-Korean talks and is awaiting the North'[s response, Xinhua reported.

The ministry made a dialogue overture to North Korea Dec 29 and said Seoul is open to all forms of dialogue to discuss all issues of mutual concern.

Lim urged Pyongyang once again to rapidly respond to Seoul's proposal for holding inter-Korean talks in January.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's speech that there is no reason not to hold summit with South Korean President Park Geun-hye if the right atmosphere is created.

In her New Year's press conference, Park said in response that she is game for dialogue with Kim if it promotes inter-Korean relations, but she added that North Korea should show sincerity toward resolving issues through dialogue.

South Korea has called for the holding of a reunion event of Korean families, separated during the 1950-53 Korean War around the time of the Lunar New Year holiday (Feb 19).

North Korea demanded that South Korea prevent civic groups from floating anti-North Korea leaflets across the border and also said it would temporarily suspend nuclear tests if the US halted joint annual military exercises with South Korea.

IANS