North Korea Won't Hold Talks With South Unless 'Issues Resolved' - Reports

The prospects and the nature of future relations between Seoul and Pyongyang will depend only on the steps taken by the South Korean government, Ri Son Kwon, the chairman of the North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, said Thursday.

"The nature of future relations between North Korea and South Korea will depend solely on the actions of South Korea. It will not be easy to sit down [at the negotiating table] with incumbent authorities of South Korea until the settlement of the complicated situation that has resulted in the suspension of high-level talks between South Korea and North Korea," Ri said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

US-S Korea Drills Seek to Sabotage Pyongyang-Seoul Peace - Russian Lawmaker

16 May 2018, 14:26 GMT

Last week, Seoul and Washington launched their annual two-week Max Thunder air drills. Pyongyang said that the exercise was a violation of the Panmunjom agreement and canceled the inter-Korean negotiations which were scheduled for Wednesday. The day before, Seoul expressed its regret over Pyongyang’s decision.

During the historic summit in April in the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a joint declaration, agreeing to take measures to support international efforts aimed at denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and proceed with the reunion programs for the separated Korean families.