N. Korea says time for Seoul to change for better ties

SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Saturday it is now up to South Korea
to take steps to thaw their chilled relations, claiming it has done all it can.

Rodong Sinmun, a newspaper published by the ruling Workers' Party, claimed the
Seoul government has not done even a "little bit" to help improve cross-border
ties.
"If the South Korean government is even a bit interested in North-South
relations, it will naturally have to show a positive reaction to our fair
actions," the newspaper said, according to a report by Uriminzokkiri, the North's
official Web site.
"We have done everything we were supposed to for the improvement of North-South
relations and now it is time for the South Korean government to reply," the
report said.
The article mimicked South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's repeated calls on
Pyongyang to fundamentally change its stance toward the South and the
international community, saying no country or organization will work with the
North unless it first denuclearizes.
In a nationally televised debate broadcast here Friday, Lee said he was willing
to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il at any time but only if
such a meeting would help convince the North to give up its nuclear program and
improve inter-Korean relations.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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