北 리선권 "고위급회담 중지시킨 사태 해결 안 되면 마주 앉기 쉽지 않을 것"
Pyongyang warned Seoul,... that there may be no more inter-Korean dialogue unless it stops its joint air combat drills Washington.
North Korea continues to describe the exercise as a rehearsal for invasion.
Park Hee-jun help us dissect the regime's possible motives behind this move. North Korea has threatened to permanently halt inter-Korean discussions,... unless South Korea stops its ongoing 'Max Thunder' air force exercise with the U.S-- which has gotten underway since May 11th.
Pyongyang's state media on Thursday quoted Ri Son-gwon -- North Korea's top negotiator for handling inter-Korean affairs,... who condemned South Korea for going forward with the military drills with the U.S.
Calling the Seoul government "ignorant" and "incompetent",... he said,... unless the serious situation, which led to the cancellation of this week's inter-Korean talks, is settled,... it will never be easy to sit face to face again with the current South Korean administration.
North Korea also slammed the South Korean parliament for holding talks with the United States-- calling them "human scumbags", but it did not reveal any names in particular.
Experts say North Korea's remarks may be a message directed at the United States.
"The fact that they reasserted or complained about the joint military exercise,... which is a convenient topic and something that has been expected. I think that sends a message to Washington that they are trying to make this as one of the agendas on the table to secure more chips, so to speak."
Pyongyang may also be posturing to boost its negotiating power in the upcoming talks between North Korea and the United States.
Regarding this matter, Seoul's Unification Ministry,... said the government expects Pyongyang to abide by their recent summit agreement-- and that they will continue to strive for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, South Korea's presidential office,... only said that it will continue to monitor the situation.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
