North Korea dismisses Moon Jae-in's peace initiative
(VOVWORLD) - Yonhap news agency has reported that North Korea on Saturday criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in's initiative for cross-border rapprochement as "sophistry" in its first response to the proposal made last week.
 South Korean President Moon Jae-in delivered a speech in Berlin on July 6th, 2017 (Photo: Yonhap) |
The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said the so-called Berlin initiative would not be helpful in improving inter-Korean ties long strained amid the reclusive state's relentless provocations. The North's paper also dismissed Moon's call for bilateral dialogue and cooperation, demanding a "fundamental shift in policy and stance."
Last Thursday, President Moon Jae-in gave a speech at the Körber Foundation while attending the G20 Summit, in which he announced his administration's peace initiatives for the Korean Peninsula. He suggested the stop of propaganda broadcasts in border areas, starting from July 24th, a date marking the 64th anniversary of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.