North Korea call for military talks dismissed in Seoul

SEOUL, May 23 (UPI) -- South Korea dismissed a recent North Korea call for dialogue received through a military communication line that Pyongyang had blocked in February.

The North Korean request was transmitted on Saturday and was from the North Korean People's Armed Forces, Yonhap news agency reported.

Pyongyang had proposed a working-level meeting between North and South for military talks, but did not include any offers on the critical issue of denuclearization.

Both South Korea's defense and unification ministries stated Monday North Korea must be committed to denuclearization before any talks are held.

Kim Jong Un conducted a fourth nuclear test in January and U.S. analysts had noted low-level activity at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear site ahead of the Seventh Party Congress, which raised suspicions the country was planning a fifth test.

But tests and launches of missiles have not taken place since the congress adjourned in early May.

According to defense ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun, the South's message dismissing the proposal was sent at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

North Korea had suggested a date in late May or early June.

In its message to the North, the South Korean defense ministry attributed tensions on the peninsula to the North's weapons tests, Moon said.

South Korea also expressed "regret" that the North called for talks without any mention of the nuclear problem, according to Moon.

In a separate statement, Seoul's unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee condemned the proposal, and said any proposal for peace is "fake" without denuclearization on the agenda.

In an interview with local news service News 1, Dongguk University professor Kim Yong-hyun said the restoration of a military communication line doesn't mean relations can be improved.

The North's gesture could be a preemptive move to invite U.S. interest in a potential dialogue, Kim said.