SEOUL, January 12 (Sputnik) — South Korea is ready to hold a summit with the North with no string attached, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said at a press conference Monday.
"There are no preconditions for the summit", President Park told journalists, adding both Seoul and Pyongyang should demonstrate their genuine resolve to settle a range of disputes, including North Korea's controversial nuclear tests.
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and has since conducted several nuclear tests, raising concerns in South Korea and its ally, the United States.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier in his New Year's Eve speech he would consider a summit with South Korea and a freeze on nuclear tests if Seoul canceled joint military exercises with the United Stated planned for 2015.
A previous meeting between two Korean presidents took place in Pyongyang in 2000 when the father of the incumbent North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, was still in power.
