N. Korea refuses more military talks with South

Seoul to stick with `responsible measures’ stance By Lee Tae-hoon North Korea said Thursday that it will stop seeking military talks with South Korea, condemning Seoul for lacking the willingness to improve relations and ease tension through dialogue. “The army and people of the (North) do not feel any need to deal with the group of traitors any longer now that they do not wish to see inter-Korean relations improved but totally reject the dialogue itself,” the North Korean delegation said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. The North claimed that the South repeatedly sought “unreasonable” preconditions for higher-level dialogue. A day earlier, the two Koreas wrapped up their two days of preliminary military talks with little progress as they failed to narrow their differences over the agenda for a ministerial meeting. Seoul has insisted Pyongyang first take responsibility for two military attacks last year and promise not to stage any further provocations before moving the talks forward. The North’s statement claimed that the working-level talks broke down as Seoul revealed its “ill-intention to use the preliminary military talks as a means of easing the public’s anger against its hostile policy.” It also argued that the South wants to escalate inter-Korean tensions to hamper the resumption of the six-party denuclearization talks that would provide financial aid in exchange for an end to Pyongyang’s nuclear program. The North has flatly denied any involvement in the torpedo attack on the frigate Cheonan in March and insisted that its deadly artillery bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island in November was provoked by the South’s live-fire drill with some shells allegedly falling in the former’s territorial waters. Seoul, however, remained firm saying any future military discussions with Pyongyang will only be possible on the condition that the communist regime accepts the South’s prerequisites for “responsible measures” over the two deadly provocations. “Our stance is that the door for a high-level military meeting is still open, but such dialogue will only be possible if North Korea takes responsible measures for the two military attacks last year,” said Col. Moon Sang-gyun, the South’s chief delegate to the talks. Moon said the North unilaterally walked away from the negotiating table. A Cheong Wa Dae official expressed skepticism over an early resumption of inter-Korean military dialogue. “The North appears to have tested how determined the South is in sticking to principles over the Cheonan and Yeonpyeong issues,” the official said asking for anonymity. “It will likely take some time for the military dialogue to resume.” As for inter-Korean Red Cross talks, he said the government won’t be in a hurry to meet with the North. “Though Red Cross talks are separate matters, they will be influenced by inter-Korean relations.” Earlier, the South agreed “in principle” to hold a Red Cross meeting with the North to discuss humanitarian issues.

leeth@koreatimes.co.kr