South Korea has dismissed recent criticism from North Korea, saying Pyongyang should take a more constructive path for better inter-Korean relations.

The Unification Ministry made the call on Wednesday a day after the North blamed South Korean officials and media for not complying with a deal to stop slandering each other.

Ministry spokeswoman Park Soo-jin dismissed the North’s criticism as an exhausting argument, saying the government does not feel the need to respond to the North’s false claim.

Regarding South Korean private organizations sending propaganda leaflets over to the North, the spokeswoman said the government should not restrict the basic rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association. She said Seoul has conveyed this stance to the North multiple times. 

On Tuesday, North Korea raised issue in a statement with the leaflet activities and media critical of North Korea. The North also said the two Koreas are at a critical crossroads whether to implement an agreement they reached last month to stop lobbing offensive remarks at each other.