Qatar- South Korea Calls on North to Return to Talks

12/14/2015 7:16:17 AM

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Seoul December 14 (QNA) - South Korea urged North Korea on Monday to return to bilateral talks that ended last weekend without results.
The two Koreas held vice ministerial talks in North Korea's border city of Kaesong from Friday through Saturday in an effort to resolve longstanding issues such as regular reunions of families separated in the 1950-53 Korean War and the resumption of a joint tour program to the North's Mount Kumgang.
The meeting ended without an agreement or plans for further talks.
"We hope North Korea will honor the spirit of the Aug. 25 agreement and seriously reflect on ways to improve South-North relations for the implementation (of the deal) and come forward for follow-up talks" spokesman of the South Korean Unification Ministry Jeong Joon-hee said during a press briefing.
Last weekend's talks were an outcome of the Aug. 25 inter-Korean deal that defused mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula caused by a border land-mine explosion blamed on the North.
"The North insisted that the Mount Kumgang tours be resumed first" Jeong said. "There is no change in the government's basic policy to develop South-North ties and lay the foundation for a peaceful reunification by holding open dialogue with the North." North Korea reportedly rebuffed the South's proposal to hold another round of talks Monday before their two-day meeting ended.
Seoul currently has no plans to renew its offer before the end of the year Jeong said.
On the abrupt cancellation of a Beijing concert by North Korea's all-female propaganda band Moranbong the spokesman said Seoul has yet to grasp the exact circumstances with relevant government departments currently determining the details. (QNA)

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