The government is remaining silent over North Korea's criticism of South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, who has urged Pyongyang to improve its human rights conditions.

A Seoul official on Wednesday said Seoul will not react because not all United Nations member countries agree with Ban's idea.

A councilor at the North Korean mission in Geneva, Choe Myong-nam, has blasted Ban for inciting inter-Korean confrontation and conflict on the international stage.

Seoul is apparently seeking to avoid conflict with Pyongyang at international meetings.

In his keynote speech Monday at the first meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council, Ban urged the North to start dialogue with the international community on its human rights and said Seoul completely shares the world's concern on the matter.