WEB DESK
South Korea’s proposed military talks aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas planned for today failed to take place after the North snubbed a call by the South, a setback for new President Moon Jae-in’s hope of engaging Pyongyang in dialogue.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry was expected to issue a statement at 0130 GMT 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 the North 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.