Seoul renews calls for NK to accept dialogue

President Moon Jae-in’s initiative to bring North Korea to the negotiating table got off to a rough start with the North failing to respond to an offer to hold military talks Friday.

But the Ministry of National Defense renewed the offer.

“We again call on the North to respond at the earliest possible date and come forward for dialogue,” said ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun.

He said Seoul’s offer for military talks would remain valid until July 27, the 64th anniversary of the armistice treaty that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

The spokesman added that easing military tension and restoring a dialogue channel between the militaries of the two sides were urgent for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The ministry made its official offer of military talks to the North, Monday, as a follow-up to the peace overture President Moon proposed in a recent speech in Berlin.

It suggested that the two Koreas hold talks at Tongilgak, a North Korean building in the truce village of Panmunjom, on how to reduce tension along the border.

Seoul asked the Kim Jong-un regime to send its response through the western military communication line, which was blocked by the North amid aggravated relations following its repeated military provocations, including nuclear tests.

But Pyongyang has neither sent messages nor published its stance in the regime’s state media.

“President Moon proposed the two Koreas halt all acts of hostility near the Military Demarcation Line starting July 27,” spokesman Moon said. “So we see the offer for talks as valid until that day.”

Asked what the ministry would do next, the spokesman said any decisions would be made after considering all the possibilities.

This is because another offer for Red Cross talks to resume reunions of separated families is still in place.

The Korean Red Cross made the offer, also on Monday, suggesting talks take place Aug. 1.

Following the North’s non-response, authorities in the South are paying keen attention to possible additional provocations by Pyongyang ahead of the Seoul-Washington annual Ulchi-Freedom Guardian joint exercise, which will reportedly begin Aug. 21.

A military official said on condition of anonymity, “By keeping silent, the North indicates it will keep going its own way in accordance with its schedule for missile development.”

The reclusive state has continued to test-fire various types of missiles apparently to show off its capability to the U.S. as well as South Korea.

In its latest test, July 4, the North launched the Hwasong-14, which it claims is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This came after Pyongyang fired anti-ship cruise missiles June 8.

CNN quoted two unidentified U.S. government officials, Wednesday, as saying signs had been detected that the North was preparing to test another ICBM or an intermediate-range ballistic missile within two weeks.

Some analysts suggest the North might make a counter offer to raise the level of the inter-Korean talks so that dialogue, if accomplished, could include broader issues such as political matters.

They said that by making a counter offer, the North would aim to take the lead in the talks, and to avoid responsibility if they failed.

University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin said, “South Korea should take into consideration the possibility that the North will suggest holding political and military talks.”

Ministry of Unification vice spokeswoman Lee Eu-gene said the government would not fluctuate between hopes and fears over the North’s responses.

“The North has not taken any official stance, and so the government has no plans to make additional offers, either,” she said.

“We expect the North to respond to our offer soon.”