SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s state media says the country rejects South Korean president’s proposal to resume reconciliation talks.

The North’s main newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary Sunday that South Korean President Lee Myung-bak should stop resorting to a “deceitful” tactic to avoid responsibility for aggravated ties between the Koreas.

Lee offered Friday to resume stalled talks with North Korea in a speech to the new parliament. Tension between the Koreas flared anew after Lee took office in February with a vow to take a tougher line on the North.

Earlier, North Korea blamed South Korea for the shooting death of a South Korean tourist in the communist nation and refused Saturday to cooperate in an investigation, jeopardizing a bid to improve relations between the countries.

While expressing regret that a North Korean soldier shot the woman Friday, the North demanded Seoul apologize for its “intolerable insult” of suspending trips to a North Korean mountain resort — and said it would not allow visitors until the South did so.

Tensions between the Koreas have flared since South Korea’s conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in February. His government has criticized alleged human rights abuses in the North and been skeptical of offering unconditional aid to the impoverished country.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---