The Unification Ministry says that now is not an appropriate time to hold inter-Korean Red Cross talks.

Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told a briefing in Seoul on Friday that South Korea remains supportive of North Korea's proposal to hold cross-border Red Cross talks.

However, he said that now is not the proper time to set the stage for holding the Red Cross dialogue, as working-level military talks earlier this week ended without an agreement.

Chun said that Seoul conveyed to Pyongyang on Wednesday its consent to hold a Red Cross meeting at some point, but the North Korean Red Cross has yet to respond.