北 리선권 "고위급회담 중지시킨 사태 해결 안 되면 마주 앉기 쉽지 않을 것"<br /><br /> Pyongyang warned Seoul,... that there may be no more inter-Korean dialogue unless it stops its joint air combat drills Washington.<br />North Korea continues to describe the exercise as a rehearsal for invasion.<br />Park Hee-jun help us dissect the regime's possible motives behind this move. North Korea has threatened to permanently halt inter-Korean discussions,... unless South Korea stops its ongoing 'Max Thunder' air force exercise with the U.S-- which has gotten underway since May 11th.<br /> Pyongyang's state media on Thursday quoted Ri Son-gwon -- North Korea's top negotiator for handling inter-Korean affairs,... who condemned South Korea for going forward with the military drills with the U.S.<br />Calling the Seoul government "ignorant" and "incompetent",... he said,... unless the serious situation, which led to the cancellation of this week's inter-Korean talks, is settled,... it will never be easy to sit face to face again with the current South Korean administration. <br />North Korea also slammed the South Korean parliament for holding talks with the United States-- calling them "human scumbags", but it did not reveal any names in particular.<br /><br />Experts say North Korea's remarks may be a message directed at the United States.<br /><br /> "The fact that they reasserted or complained about the joint military exercise,... which is a convenient topic and something that has been expected. I think that sends a message to Washington that they are trying to make this as one of the agendas on the table to secure more chips, so to speak."<br /><br />Pyongyang may also be posturing to boost its negotiating power in the upcoming talks between North Korea and the United States.<br /><br /> Regarding this matter, Seoul's Unification Ministry,... said the government expects Pyongyang to abide by their recent summit agreement-- and that they will continue to strive for peace on the Korean Peninsula.<br />Meanwhile, South Korea's presidential office,... only said that it will continue to monitor the situation.<br /><br />Park Hee-jun, Arirang News. <br />
