The Unification Ministry says North Korea is not responding to South Korea's attempt to reach it via the Red Cross hotline in the truce village of Panmunjeom.

A ministry official said the ministry attempted to hold a telephone conversation with the North through the hotline at 9 a.m. Wednesday but no one answered.

The official said the North apparently did not respond considering the cancellation of Wednesday's scheduled inter-Korean government-level meeting in Seoul.

The official said it is highly likely that the Red Cross channel at the truce village will remain frozen for the time being.

North Korea cut off the hotline in March when tensions were running high on the Korean Peninsula, but restored it last Thursday to coordinate details with the South on holding ministerial-level talks.