Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae says that South Korea’s willingness to talk to North Korea remains unchanged. The minister’s remark comes on the back of what Seoul considers to be Pyongyang’s rejection to the South’s recent proposal for dialogue.

Before the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification on Wednesday, the minister said that it is desirable for the North to come forward to hold talks and that Seoul will watch how Pyongyang will act.

Ryoo said that Seoul proposed dialogue with the North to address issues related to the joint inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex, but it does not necessarily mean that the agenda of dialogue will be limited to the complex.

He added that the government did not have any secret contact with the North before making its proposal for talks.