Our top story this evening... North Korea has rejected South Korea's proposal to hold working-level talks on the long-stalled Mount Geumgang tours.
This comes a day after Seoul suggested discussing the tour program as a whole, hinting at a possible resumption of the tours, but Pyeongyang limited the talking points to removing South Korean facilities from the site.
The North also reiterated that both sides communicate only through written exchanges.
Arirang's Unification Ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee starts us off.
North Korea has rejected South Korea's proposal to hold face-to-face working-level talks over the Mount Geumgang tours.
On Tuesday, Seoul's unification ministry and the South Korean firm Hyundai Asan, the main operator of the tours, received a reply from Pyeongyang through the inter-Korean liaison office.
"The North said... there's no need to hold separate working-level talks on removing South Korean facilities and claimed that details can be agreed through written exchanges."
Last Friday, Pyeongyang notified Seoul that its authorities should come to the Mount Geumgang area and tear down the South Korean facilities.
The North said the dates and other details can be set through written exchanges.
But South Korea was firm that a face-to-face meeting is crucial, as the tourist resort and the tours hold historical significance as a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation.
On Monday, Seoul suggested holding working-level talks to discuss the tours as a whole -- expanding the talking points from removing South Korean facilities to possibly re-operating the tours.
But the North came back with an outright 'no,' rejecting any discussion of the tours as well.
Seoul still sees it's necessary to meet and talk face-to-face.
"All issues related to inter-Korean relations should be solved through dialogue and consultations. Seoul will discuss the issue closely with the tour operator and come up with a response."
When asked about the possibility of North Korea unilaterally destroying South Korean buildings at the resort should the two sides fail to reach an agreement, an unnamed unification ministry official said... it's difficult to judge.
Seoul says it will be discussing the issue with Hyundai Asan and decide whether to send a reply to the North.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
