South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon has assessed North Korea's unilateral cancellation of the planned inter-Korean talks as a way of managing circumstances ahead of the North-U.S. summit talks.

Cho gave the assessment on Friday during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. 

The minister said that North Korea explained its reasons for the abrupt move through its statements and the state media, but it seems the North is working to manage the situation ahead of the upcoming summit with the U.S.

Cho also expected the scrapped inter-Korean talks will not affect the North's dismantlement of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. 

[Photo : YONHAP News]