North Korea silent after Seoul proposes military talks to ease tensions

Seoul: South Korea’s proposed military talks aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas planned for Friday failed to take place after the North snubbed a call by the South, a setback for President Moon Jae-in’s hope of engaging Pyongyang in dialogue.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry was expected to issue a statement after the North remained silent on Seoul’s proposal made on Monday for talks to be held to discuss ways to avoid hostilities near the heavily armed border.

Moon took office in May pledging to engage the North in dialogue, as well as bring pressure to impede its nuclear and missile programmes.

The talks proposal came after North Korea claimed to have conducted the first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) earlier this month, and said it had mastered the technologies to mount a nuclear warhead on the missile.

It was the first formal overture by Seoul after cross-border ties broke down early last year under the government of Moon’s predecessor, who imposed unilateral sanctions on the North for its nuclear tests and missile launches.

The North has conducted its fourth and fifth nuclear tests and a quick succession of missile-related activities since the start of 2016, after its leader Kim Jong Un pledged to improve ties with the South in his New Year’s day address.

On Monday the South proposed the military talks to discuss ceasing activities at the border that have fuelled tension.

By those activities, South Korea usually refers to loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts by both sides, while North Korea wants a halt to routine joint US-South Korea military drills.