Seoul Ready for Talks With N Korea Without Preconditions - Unification Minister

TOKYO (Sputnik) - South Korea is open to a dialogue with North Korea on issues of concern without preconditions, in order to mend ties between the two sides, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Friday.

"If we can hold talks with North Korea, we are willing to have talks with the North over issues of concerns to it in an open-minded manner and without conditions. In that sense, we will make efforts to restore strained inter-Korean relations and make better ties to help resolve North Korea's nuclear problem," Cho said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

READ MORE: US Has No Plans to Halt Joint Drills Near Korean Peninsula Ahead of Olympics

Until now, Seoul's official stance was that dialogue with the North could be set up if Pyongyang suspended its nuclear and missile tests.

Moreover, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stated on Tuesday that his country and the United States might consider postponing their joint military drill to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and invite North Korea to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has deteriorated significantly this year due to North Korea's missile and nuclear tests, all conducted in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. In late November, North Korea tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, which, as Pyongyang said, was capable of hitting any part of the US mainland.