Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung said Thursday it's undesirable for North Korea to criticize the South's Grand National Party (GNP), adding that Seoul will raise the issue at next month's inter-Korean prime ministers' talks.

Lee made the remark during a parliamentary inspection of the Unification Ministry in response to a GNP lawmaker's complaint that Pyongyang keeps denouncing his party despite an inter-Korean summit agreement not to intervene in domestic matters.

The minister added that Seoul will urge Pyongyang to respect the agreement.

Asked by lawmakers about the timing of a proposed declaration to end the Korean War, Lee said that countries concerned will arrive at a consensus through talks.