MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti), Ekaterina Blinova - Seoul says that it has not changed its position regarding sanctions imposed on Pyongyang in spite of President Park Geun-hye's recent public comment on the issue, South Korea's official media outlet Yonhap reports.
"Seoul banned all inter-Korean economic exchanges except for a joint industrial complex following the North's 2010 torpedo attack on the South's Cheonan warship that killed 46 sailors. President Park said Monday the two Koreas should resolve it "through dialogue in a responsible manner," the media source points out.
South Korea's ministry official admitted that Seoul and Pyongyang need to hold talks on the so-called "May 24th Measure," which bans bilateral trade and new investments to the North. However, the official insisted that the North has to make the first step towards negotiations with Seoul.
"The North should first take a responsible step with regard to the Cheonan incident," said the official as cited by Yonhap.
Meanwhile Pyongyang has called upon its southern neighbor to lift the sanctions, referring to the fact that sanctions have become the main stumbling block to restoration of ties between the two powers.
On Monday, October 13, President Park noted, that "she will keep the door open for dialogue" with Pyongyang, despite the North's apparent "ambivalence" towards Seoul.
"Like there is a saying that talk is needed even during hostilities, dialogue should continue to ease tension and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula," President Park Geun-hye said as cited by The Korea Herald.
"South and North Korean officials should resolve matters including the May 24 (sanctions), which is a red-hot issue now, by holding sincere talks with a responsible attitude," Park emphasized during a meeting with committee of unification preparation.
Park also hinted there is "the possibility of restarting fertilizer aid to the impoverished neighbor."
On Tuesday, October 14, the ministry official clarified, however, that if such an assistance was even resumed it would be limited, and would not resemble the "government-level massive aid under the previous liberal administrations," according to Yonhap.
