Vice Foreign Minister Kwon Jong-rak said it would be incorrect to assert that inter-Korean working group talks on energy and economic aid have collapsed.

He made the remarks before a parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, trade and unification Monday.

The vice foreign minister said the government believes North Korea has suspended the disablement of its nuclear facilities and begun restoring some of them. But he added the restoration may not necessarily lead to operation of their nuclear facilities.

Kwon said making a final decision on aid to the North would be premature, although the two Koreas failed to reach agreement during the working group talks in the truce village of Panmunjeom last week.