N. Korea says no more chances for inter-Korean dialogue

SEOUL, March 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday that South Korea has blown any chance for bilateral dialogue by pressing ahead with joint military drills with the United States. The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea warned that the South will face "miserable consequences." "Now that the puppet warmongers are making an open challenge by kicking off the war drills against the North, together with the U.S., the opportunity of the North-South dialogue and improvement of relations have already passed and there will only be a final stand-off by force," the committee said in a statement. It is in charge of Pyongyang's daily relations with Seoul. The warning came on the heels of a strong threat by the General Staff of the North Korean People's Army of "merciless strikes" against the U.S. and South Korea. On Monday, the allies began the two-week Key Resolve and two-month Foal Eagle exercises, defying the North's repeated calls for scrapping them. The South's government reiterated that it would deal resolutely with the North's provocation. At the same time, officials here said Seoul will continue efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, especially as the two sides celebrate the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 35-year colonial rule. In June, the Koreas will also commemorate the signing of a historic summit deal in 2000. "The government is in a position to actively support joint events, if planned, to mark the June 15 Joint Declaration and the Aug. 15 Liberation Day," a unification ministry official told reporters on background. He said the two sides are also expected to resume various types of civilian contact in China in the coming weeks with the North showing signs of relaxing quarantine measures to stave off the inflow of the Ebola virus. North Korean officials have apparently refrained from traveling abroad amid a set of tough anti-Ebola measures. "Traditionally, the South and the North have had brisk civilian contact over humanitarian aid in the early months of a year," said the official. "As it has done so far, the government will support humanitarian aid through civilian groups for North Korea." He added, however, the Park Geun-hye administration is not considering large-scale food or fertilizer aid to the North. "It is a matter that requires public consensus (in South Korea). For now, such assistance is not being considered either officially or unofficially," he said. lcd@yna.co.kr leechidong@gmail.com (END)