North Korea has rejected Seoul's proposal of holding talks on the withdrawal of guard posts inside the Demilitarized Zone .

Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung on Friday said the North’s rejection came during recent inter-Korean military talks.

He said the South asked to include talks on the guard posts withdrawal as an official agenda item at the forthcoming meeting of generals between the two sides.

Yoon said the North instead wanted to discuss pending issues one by one, not under a package deal.

Military officials of the two Koreas met earlier this week to set the date and agenda for the generals' talks aimed at easing tension on the Korean Peninsula.