Anchor: After three days of silence, South Korea again asked the North to answer its request to discuss reunions of families separated by the Korean War. Pyongyang commented Wednesday but only to reiterate Seoul should stop joint military exercises with the U.S.
Our Kim Soyon reports.

Report: North Korea has not responded to Seoul’s proposal for talks to arrange inter-Korean family reunions, in effect rejecting the offer. 

Seoul expressed regret on Wednesday, the proposed date for the talks, over North Korea’s “passive attitude” toward a humanitarian event.

Unification Ministry deputy spokeswoman Park Soo-jin told reporters South Korea sent a telegram to the North that morning through the liaison channel at the truce village of Panmunjeom. 

Park said Seoul asked Pyongyang to clearly respond to its proposal for a family reunion event in the North next month. She said Seoul also asked for a quick response, citing the earnest wishes of people separated by the Korean War.

While keeping silent for the third day on Seoul's offer, North Korea only repeated its call for the South to cancel annual military drills with the U.S. scheduled to begin next month. The joint exercises are named Key Resolve and Foal Eagle.

The Rodong Sinmun, the gazette of North Korea’s ruling Workers' Party, said Wednesday that dialogue and creating the right conditions are necessary to improve inter-Korean ties. The Rondong added it is even more important to end hostile military acts. 

On Monday, North Korea demanded Seoul stop maritime shooting drills on its northwestern border islands, warning the exercises will result in "grave consequences." 

South Korea said the military drills are fair and just and it will not end them.
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.