North Korea is actively seeking dialogue and exchanges not only with the South Korean government but also with South Korean private organizations.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said Wednesday that the North’s Korean Council of Religionists sent faxes to South Korean private and religious organizations last Saturday proposing meetings in Beijing in mid-February.

The ministry added that the North Korean Committee on Implementing the June 15th Joint Declaration proposed to its counterpart in the South that that a meeting of their chairmen or a full committee meeting be held in North Korea or a third country.

The North’s Korean Social Democratic Party also proposed to the South’s Democratic Labor Party that they hold talks to discuss exchanges between the two parties.

The ministry stressed that instead of making such proposals, the North must first take steps to assume responsibility for its sinking of the “Cheonan” naval ship and the shelling of Yeongpyeong Island. The ministry added that Pyongyang must also first pledge to cease further provocations and show sincerity toward denuclearization efforts.