S. Korea dismisses Pyongyang talks offer
Source: Agencies |
January 6, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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NORTH Korea called yesterday for "unconditional and early" talks with rival South Korea to put an end to months of tensions. Seoul quickly dismissed the offer as insincere and said it is waiting for an apology for two deadly attacks blamed on Pyongyang.
Tensions between the two Koreas have been at their highest level in years since North Korea fired artillery at a South Korean-held island near their disputed maritime border in November, killing four South Koreans.
The attack was the first on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War, and occurred in waters not far from the spot where a torpedo sank a South Korean warship eight months early, killing 46 sailors.
That attack was also blamed on North Korea - an allegation the country denies.
North Korea has made conciliatory moves recently. On New Year's Day, the government called for warmer ties and the resumption of joint projects with South Korea.
"We don't consider it as a sincere offer," South Korea's Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said. North Korea must apologize for the two attacks and take "sincere" steps toward nuclear disarmament, she said.
Tensions between the two Koreas have been at their highest level in years since North Korea fired artillery at a South Korean-held island near their disputed maritime border in November, killing four South Koreans.
The attack was the first on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War, and occurred in waters not far from the spot where a torpedo sank a South Korean warship eight months early, killing 46 sailors.
That attack was also blamed on North Korea - an allegation the country denies.
North Korea has made conciliatory moves recently. On New Year's Day, the government called for warmer ties and the resumption of joint projects with South Korea.
"We don't consider it as a sincere offer," South Korea's Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said. North Korea must apologize for the two attacks and take "sincere" steps toward nuclear disarmament, she said.
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