Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung on Friday voiced caution on North Korea's offer to hold military talks with the United States, saying that he'd like to confirm why Pyongyang did not include Seoul.

Lee told reporters that Seoul will watch closely how Pyongyang’s move affects six-party discussions on establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, as well as inter-Korean military talks.

However, he stressed that inter-Korean talks should be central to realizing a military détente and a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, suggesting that the South Korean government does not welcome Washington-Pyongyang military talks which exclude Seoul.