Presidential office says S. Korea has 'no hostile intent' toward N. Korea

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung speaks during a press conference at the presidential office in Seoul, Nov. 11. Yonhap

The presidential office said Tuesday that South Korea has no hostile intent toward North Korea, hours after the North denounced the release of a joint fact sheet on recent South Korea-U.S. trade and security agreements amounted to "formalizing" a confrontational policy toward Pyongyang.

Earlier in the day, North Korea issued a lengthy commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), arguing that the U.S. approval of South Korea's push to build nuclear-powered submarines will lead to a "nuclear domino" phenomenon in the region.

"We will continue to work consistently toward easing inter-Korean tensions and restoring trust between the two Koreas," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press notice.

"Contrary to the commentary carried by the KCNA, the government has no hostile or confrontational intent toward the North," she added.

Kang stressed that South Korea's security cooperation with the United States is aimed at safeguarding national interests and safeguarding national defense.

"The government will continue efforts to ensure the South Korea-U.S. alliance contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," she said.

In the commentary, the North also took issue with the U.S.' formal approval of South Korea's push to build nuclear-powered submarines and the allies' commitment to completing denuclearization of the North.

It marked Pyongyang's first reaction to the document that Seoul and Washington released Friday over the outcomes of two summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October.

The North's warning came as it has not responded to Trump's repeated proposal to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy with Pyongyang. Kim earlier said the North remains open to talks with the U.S. if Washington does not demand North Korea's denuclearization as a precondition for dialogue.