ROK regrets DPRK's 'threat' of stern punishment

His comments came a day after the DPRK's National Defense Commission said that "even a basic dialogue mood has not been formed" as South Korea distorted the DPRK's sincerity and will to improve inter-Korean relations.

The commission cited the planned joint annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States, and Seoul's connivance of ant-DPRK leaflet spread by South Korean civic groups.

The DPRK has cited those two issues as well as the lifting of sanctions imposed by South Korea as preconditions for resuming inter-Korean talks.

Regarding the calls, Lim said South Korea is not considering accepting Pyongyang's preconditions to induce the DPRK to the dialogue table, reiterating that the DPRK should come forward to the table to comprehensively talk about what it wants.

South Korea offered on Dec. 29 to hold talks with the DPRK in January to discuss all issues of mutual concern, but the DPRK has kept mum about the proposal.