ARIRANG NEWS 22:00
Good to have you with us at this hour.
I′m Daniel Choy, here to provide you with the latest news updates.
N. Korea warns of ′severe consequences′ if Seoul continues to challenge Pyongyang
South Korea may have gotten an answer to its proposal for inter-Korean talks, now almost a month old.
North Korea warned Seoul that it could face severe consequences... if it keeps challenging Pyongyang on its approach to improving inter-Korean relations.
Think that′s confusing? Our Park Ji-won explains.
North Korea is sending more mixed messages.
The National Defense Commission on Sunday warned the South Korean government not to distort or criticize Pyongyang for its approach towards improved inter-Korean relations.
It added,... South Korea could face severe consequences... if it continues to challenge North Korea′s forward-looking approach, which it said is aimed at strengthening ethnic ties in inter-Korean relations.
Pyongyang also criticized the South for allowing civic groups to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border... and going ahead with an annual joint military exercise with the U.S. this spring.
Pyongyang also characterized Seoul′s proposals for dialogue and reunions for war-separated families... as rhetoric lacking in sincerity.
However, up until Saturday,... North Korea′s state-run Rodong Shinmun newspaper has emphasized inter-Korean dialogue and negotiations.
Earlier this week, the North had said that,... as this year marks the 70th anniversary of Korea′s liberation from Japanese colonial rule,... the two Koreas have a duty to use it as an opportunity to boost their relations.
Regarding the North′s hot-and-cold approach,... experts say Pyongyang is hoping to press Seoul to change its North Korea policies.
They add the confrontation will continue until the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises set for March.
Responding to the criticism on Sunday, South Korea′s Unification Ministry called the North′s latest threat highly regrettable and urged Pyongyang to accept Seoul′s proposal for inter-Korean talks, now almost a month old.
According to reports by Seoul-based Yonhap News on Sunday,... South Korean government officials had hopes of resuming inter-Korean dialogue sometime this month,... but with the latest threat from the North,... they now think the possibility of talks is slim.
If the talks don′t happen this month, it may be almost impossible for the two Koreas to organize reunions for war-separated families during Lunar New Year′s holidays in mid-February.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
North Korean leader could attend Bandung Conference in April: Sources
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may make his debut on the international diplomatic stage sooner than expected.
South Korean government sources say Kim could attend an international meeting called the Bandung Conference in Indonesia in April.
The Indonesian government is expected to invite the leaders of both Koreas to the event.
The North′s fo
