A North Korean military official told the Associated Press the North is open to immediate talks with South Korea if Seoul meets several preconditions for dialogue.

Colonel Ri Son-kwon of North Korea’s National Defense Commission Policy Department held an interview with AP in Pyongyang on Thursday.

Ri challenged South Korea to declare to the world whether it honestly intends to engage in dialogue with the North. He said if clear answers are given, dialogue will resume immediately.

He also said that resuming dialogue and improving inter-Korean ties is completely up to the South Korean government.

The colonel served as the North's chief delegate to the inter-Korean working-level defense talks held at the border village of Panmunjeom in February last year.