North Korea is condemning a remark made by South Korea's unification minister regarding the potential resumption of inter-Korean talks in mid-April.

The North's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday denounced Minister Yu Woo-ik's comment calling it speculative and presumptuous.

KCNA said for the South Korean official to speculate that North Korea is withholding a decision on resuming talks with the South while its regime stabilizes under a new leader has left a scar on Pyongyang's sovereign dignity.

The news agency stressed that North Korea does not want to deal with the Lee Myung-bak administration, and it challenged Seoul to respond to a nine-point open questionnaire the North proposed earlier this month.

KCNA said unless South Korea responds to the questions, it can't be a partner in dialogue.

The questions include the request of an apology from Seoul for the attitude it showed following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.