Following Monday's proposal by South Korea to hold minister-level talks with North Korea next month, a unification ministry official said the government will listen to the North's demands first if it asks the South to lift sanctions against it.
 
The official told reporters on Tuesday that if inter-Korean dialogue takes place, the North may demand discussions on lifting current sanctions or resuming tours to Mount Geumgang.
 
The official said after the South Korean Presidential Preparatory Committee for Unification begins dialogue, the government could hold follow-up talks led by a more responsible authority.
 
However, the official said the government remains firm that the sanctions the South slapped on the North in 2010 following the sinking of the South Korean warship the Cheonan may not be lifted unless North Korea takes responsible measures.
 
Adding that it will be possible for the government to separately approach the nuclear and human rights issues, the official said Monday's proposal is to begin talks with the easy things first.
 
The official also said the North must send a dialogue partner of an appropriate level who is able to discuss specific issues and that Kim Yang-gon, director of the North’s United Front Department, is such a person.
 
Regarding the North's denouncement that Seoul's presidential reunification committee is a scheme to absorb North Korea, the official said the proposed talks could be the time when the South can explain to the North that the committee doesn't promote unification by absorption.