S. Korea remains cautious on NK's dialog proposal

By Yi Whan-woo

Seoul urged Pyongyang to come to the table for inter-Korean talks unconditionally, Monday, in response to the repressive state’s proposal that it is open for talks if certain conditions were met.

“The government has repeatedly made it clear that it respects all inter-Korean agreements, including the June 15, 2000 Joint Declaration,” the Ministry of Unification said.

“We are also open to discuss various issues concerning the mutual interests of the two Koreas.

“We ask North Korea to come to the table for dialogue instead of making inappropriate claims as preconditions for talks,” the ministry added.

The announcement came after North Korea said earlier in the day that it was willing to engage in talks with South Korea if an “atmosphere for trust and reconciliation is formed.”

In its statement, Pyongyang listed several preconditions for dialogue that Seoul has repeatedly turned down in the past for being unrealistic.

It demanded that the two Koreas should collaborate “independently” on inter-Korean and re-unification affairs without “capitalizing on international powerhouses.”

The North also asked Seoul to scrap joint military exercises with Washington that it has condemned as a rehearsal for an invasion of North Korea.

“South Korea should be aware that it faces a critical moment in deciding whether to join hands with us for better inter-Korean ties or to face a miserable fate by continuing confrontation,” it said.

Pyongyang’s statement was made on the 15th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit, triggering speculation that the reclusive regime may be serious about mending frayed ties.

During the 2000 summit, then President Kim Dae-jung and then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il issued a joint declaration that called for peaceful unification of the two Koreas. The declaration was seen as a potential landmark agreement for inter-Korean reconciliation.