North Korea presses South to overlook US on cross

By Yi Whan-woo

North Korea pressed the South over the weekend to pursue cross-border agreements egardless of relations between Washington and Pyongyang.

The North's propaganda websites Uriminzokkiri and Meari said Pyongyang was disappointed at Seoul's attempt to resume inter-Korean talks in accordance with possible U.S.-North Korea denuclearization negotiations.

The move challenges the optimism that the North may be open to talks with the South again after the leaders of the three countries met at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on June 30, according to observers.

The DMZ meeting came after the breakdown of a summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in February, and Pyongyang's repeated complaints about President Moon Jae-in playing a "mediating" role.

Sources familiar with Pyongyang speculated that the rhetoric is aimed at resuming cross-border economic cooperation amid prolonged U.S. sanctions on the regime.

"The South Korean authorities' stance is casting a shadow of disappointment over the Korean people's faces that are supposed to shine with hope for peace, prosperity and unification," Uriminzokkiri said July 14.

The website called on the South to take "bold steps" to improve the cross-border relations, instead of "walking on eggshells around the U.S."

It added that Seoul's move to work to an agenda based on the Washington-Pyongyang dialogue was "preposterous."

In a separate commentary, July 13, Uriminzokkiri said South Korea "does not necessarily have to join" if the North and the U.S. return to denuclearization negotiations.

"Moreover, it's apparent that the South will have nothing do even if it is lucky enough to join the table," it added.

It held Seoul responsible for "being left out," and that it should "think critically on its own, make decisions on its own and be aggressive in implementing inter-Korean agreements."

Also July 13, Meari said, "The blame is solely on the South for being left alone. There will be no need for us to sit with a partner who is incapable of solving problems on its own."

Calling Moon's role as "mediator" and "facilitator" "meaningless," Meari asked the South to focus on implementing inter-Korean agreements.

Meanwhile, the U.S has proposed to North Korea that working-level officials of the two sides meet this week for talks, according to diplomatic sources, Sunday.

They said the U.S. made the proposal through a diplomatic channel and was awaiting a response.