Foreign Ministry spokesman Kim Young-sun says North Korea has made no fundamental change in its stance regarding the possibility for a resumption of multilateral denuclearization talks.

Kim said at a ministry briefing Thursday that although North Korea’s recent conciliatory attitude can be interpreted as a slight change of pace, Pyongyang’s stance remains rigid in regards to its demand that U.N. Security Council sanctions be lifted and a peace treaty be signed.

He made the comment a day after South Korea’s chief nuclear enjoy Wi Sung-lac said North Korea appeared to be closer to returning to the multilateral nuclear talks than it was last year.