By Park Si-soo
North Korea has proposed to hold working-level talks with South Korea in late May or early June to prepare for high-level military talks, Pyongyang's state media said Saturday.
The North's National Defense Commission made the proposal, said the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"We propose to hold working-level contact for opening (the two Koreas') military authorities talks at the date and place both sides deem convenient in late May or early June in a bid to defuse military tension and create confidence-building atmosphere between the military authorities of North and South Korea," KCNA said in an English dispatch.
The U.N.-sanctioned state has recently ratcheted up effort to resume inter-Korean dialogue following the country's recently concluded ruling party congress, during which its leader Kim Jong-un tightened his grip on power.
During the congress, Kim said there is a "need to fundamentally improve North-South relations," adding the North won't use nuclear weapons unless the country's sovereignty is violated.
Early this week, Kim Ki-nam, vice chairman of the Workers' Party, called on South Korea to come forward to have sincere talks.
South Korea on Friday rejected the North's offer for military talks, saying Pyongyang should first take concrete steps toward denuclearization.
"The Seoul government maintains a firm stance that denuclearization steps should be a top priority when it comes to dialogue with North Korea," South Korea's defense ministry said.
The South called the North's proposal a "propaganda ploy" that lacks sincerity at a time when North Korea claims it is a nuclear state.
North Korea has proposed to hold working-level talks with South Korea in late May or early June to prepare for high-level military talks, Pyongyang's state media said Saturday.
The North's National Defense Commission made the proposal, said the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"We propose to hold working-level contact for opening (the two Koreas') military authorities talks at the date and place both sides deem convenient in late May or early June in a bid to defuse military tension and create confidence-building atmosphere between the military authorities of North and South Korea," KCNA said in an English dispatch.
The U.N.-sanctioned state has recently ratcheted up effort to resume inter-Korean dialogue following the country's recently concluded ruling party congress, during which its leader Kim Jong-un tightened his grip on power.
During the congress, Kim said there is a "need to fundamentally improve North-South relations," adding the North won't use nuclear weapons unless the country's sovereignty is violated.
Early this week, Kim Ki-nam, vice chairman of the Workers' Party, called on South Korea to come forward to have sincere talks.
South Korea on Friday rejected the North's offer for military talks, saying Pyongyang should first take concrete steps toward denuclearization.
"The Seoul government maintains a firm stance that denuclearization steps should be a top priority when it comes to dialogue with North Korea," South Korea's defense ministry said.
The South called the North's proposal a "propaganda ploy" that lacks sincerity at a time when North Korea claims it is a nuclear state.