The Defense Ministry says it has rejected a request by North Korea to hold working-level military talks.

Colonel Moon Sang-kyun at the ministry’s North Korea bureau said Saturday that the ministry turned down the North’s proposal made last week after the North failed to comply with the South’s requests for holding the military talks.

The South had asked the North that it take responsible measures for its involvement in the sinking of the Cheonan naval ship and to present agendas for the military meeting. However, the North responded in a message that the South is the one responsible for the Cheonan incident.

Moon said the North’s response led Seoul to respond that it would be meaningless to hold the military talks with the North if it fails to make any changes in its position and attitude.

Moon said he believes the two Koreas are unlikely to hold military talks any time soon, citing that the North, instead of presenting detailed agendas for the talks had issued critical remarks against the South through a statement by the Korean Central Television.

Earlier on Friday, the North’s delegation for military talks threatened in a statement issued by the Korean Central Television that the North’s military would ruthlessly counter what it called the South’s provocative acts, which focus on avoiding the implementation of inter-Korean agreements.