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February 3, 2012

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ROK: DPRK demands 'unreasonable'

NORTH Korea yesterday demanded several preconditions for resuming talks with South Korea, as it backed away from earlier vows to shun Seoul's conservative leader in what could be a sign of conciliation.

South Korea quickly called the demands made in a statement by the Policy Department of the North's powerful National Defense Commission "unreasonable."

"If clear answers are given, dialogue will resume immediately, and the inter-Korean relations that have been moving toward complete destruction will improve," Ri Son Kwon, a colonel working for the commission's Policy Department, said.

The North's defense commission issued a list of nine conditions, including demands that South Korea apologize for failing to show proper respect to Kim Jong Il during the mourning period that followed the late leader's December 17 death. Additionally, it demanded that Seoul stop criticizing Pyongyang over two deadly 2010 attacks blamed on North Korea.

North Korea also demanded an end to US-South Korean military drills, which Pyongyang calls a rehearsal for war.

South Korea has called for dialogue as new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un tries to consolidate power.

But South Korea's Unification Ministry released a statement yesterday saying it regrets the North's "unreasonable claims" and "does not feel the need to respond to these questions ... one by one."





 

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