South Korea\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Unification Policy Officer Chun Hae-sung (L) and the head of North Korea\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s delegation Kim Song Hye read statements during a meeting on June 10, 2013.<\/p>\n
North Korea says the South has intentionally ruined planned high-level talks between the two countries by making \u00cb\u0153arrogant obstructions\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 to the negotiations.\n<\/p>\n
The two Koreas had initially come to an agreement to hold their first high-level talks in six years in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on June 12 and 13. However, the talks were canceled at the last minute after a row over protocol.\n<\/p>\n
The talks were agreed upon after months of military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cThe South side had no intent to hold dialogue from the beginning,\u201d said a spokesman for the North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK), which is the state body that handles inter-Korean issues.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The spokesman added in a Thursday statement published on the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that South Korea sought to \u00c5\u201ccreate an obstacle to the talks, delay and then torpedo them.\u201d He also accused Seoul of \u00c5\u201cdeliberate disturbance\u201d by changing the head of the South Korean delegation to the talks. <\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cThis impolite and immoral provocative behavior made us think once again whether it will be possible to properly discuss matters or improve relations even if official talks are opened in the future.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The talks failed when North Korea said Seoul\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s nomination of a vice minister as its chief delegate was an insult. Pyongyang canceled the dispatch of its delegation after South Korea refused to upgrade to a cabinet minister.\n<\/p>\n
The main focus of the negotiations was to be on re-opening two suspended commercial projects – the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Zone, and South Korea tours to the North\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Mount Kumgang resort.\n<\/p>\n
Kaesong is located on the North Korean side of the fortified border and houses the operations of over 120 South Korean companies, employing both South and North Korean workers.\n<\/p>\n
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