(VOVworld) – South Korea rejected North Korea’s offer for inter-Korean military talks on Friday, saying Pyongyang should first take steps toward denuclearization.

South Korean Unification Ministry calls on Pyongyang to denuclearize (Photo: Reuters KCNA)

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the government maintains a firm stance that denuclearization steps should be a top priority when it comes to dialogue with North Korea. The ministry also said North Korea’s offer cannot be seen as a sincere act at a time when North Korea claims it is a nuclear state and rejects nuclear disarmament.

The statement came few hours after North Korea’s Defense Commission urged South Korea to accept its offer to hold the inter-Korean military talks to ease tension on the Korean peninsula.