The South Korean government has expressed its regret over North Korea’s Thursday decision to hold off inter-Korean talks on resuming family reunions.

Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-seok commented on the North's withdrawal of its initial offer for talks on the matter, which followed Seoul's refusal to discuss reopening suspended tours to Mount Geumgang resort. 

During a briefing on Friday, Kim said that Seoul turned down Pyongyang's invitation for discussing the tour program in order to focus on Gaeseong Industrial Complex issues.

Calling the Gaeseong Industrial Park the touchstone for inter-Korean relations, the spokesman explained that the Gaeseong issue should come first because it contains all limitations and problems that exist in other inter-Korean cooperation projects. 

The North on Wednesday offered talks on inter-Korean family reunions and tours to Mount Geumgang, but South Korea only accepted talks for family reunions. Pyongyang then put the plan for both talks on hold on Thursday.