North Korea has rejected South Korea’s position to separate inter-Korean talks on denuclearization from the issue of the North’s two provocations.

The Minju Josun, the official daily of the North’s Cabinet, on Tuesday said that there is no change in Seoul’s intentions behind using the incidents of the Cheonan sinking and attack on Yeongpyeong Island to deteriorate inter-Korean relations, hinder dialogue between the North and the U.S., and stall the resumption of the six-party nuclear talks.

The daily said that Seoul’s position to separate the two issues is just aimed at avoiding criticism from home and abroad.

It is the first time that the North officially showed a negative response to the South’s position on the matter.

Seoul has recently highlighted its intention to separately approach inter-Korean dialogue and denuclearization talks. A ranking government official told reporters on Monday that inter-Korean talks on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula could immediately follow the North’s agreement to hold dialogue, even without its apology over last year's provocations.

The official said that an apology from the North over the sinking of the “Cheonan” naval ship and shelling of Yeonpyeong Island is not a precondition for the inter-Korean denuclerization talks.