Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said Wednesday that the South Korean government will be patient and will continue its efforts to develop normal relations between the two Koreas in order to elicit a change in North Korea’s attitude.

Hyun told lawmakers that North Korea’s irresponsible action of its recent disclosure of a secret contact between the two Koreas damaged the fundamentals of inter-Korean relations.

He said that during the secret meeting, South Korean government officials demanded the North to admit to the attacks on the South’s Cheonan naval vessel and Yeonpyeong Island. The South also demanded an apology and a pledge to prevent future provocations from North Korea. Hyun stated that the contact was not to negotiate a summit.

The minister said that the South Korean government is not pushing for a summit for its own sake or a political agenda. Hyun added that in order for such a summit to take place, there must be conditions conducive between South and North Korea that would allow the two leaders to be effective with their talks.