청와대 "김여정 담화 무례하고 몰상식…감내않겠다"
Our top story this lunchtime.
South Korea's top office has fired back at what it calls North Korea's rude and senseless criticisms of President Moon Jae-in saying it will no longer tolerate the regime's unreasonable words.
This comes after Pyeongyang criticized President Moon's message of cooperation and exchange between the two sides to mark 20 years since the first inter-Korean summit.
For more, we connect to our presidential office correspondent Kim Min-ji.
Min-ji, some word out of the top office?
That's right Mark.
South Korea's presidential office strongly condemned the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for her "rude and senseless" criticism of President Moon.
The top office convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council this morning.
Take a listen.
"We will no longer tolerate North Korea's unreasonable words and acts, which damage trust between the two sides.
This morning, Kim Yo-jong issued a statement slamming President Moon's message of cooperation and exchange between the two sides to mark twenty years since the first-ever inter-Korean summit calling it shameless sophistry.
She said South Korea's failure to stop activists sending propaganda leaflets across the border sparked the tensions,... adding it was Seoul not Pyeongyang that had failed to abide by the Panmunjeom Declaration to end all hostilities.
She also said they can no longer discuss inter-Korean relations.
North Korea also claimed to have rejected South Korea's offer to send a special envoy to Pyeongyang. I understand it was supposed to be a confidential proposal. If such a thing is possible at this point...
Yes, the top office said it made a confidential proposal to send a special envoy,... and North Korea's unilateral revelation is unreasonable expressing regret.
It stressed that such actions don't help North Korea,... and that it will be held responsible for anything that happens as a result calling on Pyeongyang to have manners.
The North's state media said this morning that Kim Yo-jong, had flatly rejected South Korea's offer calling it a sinister proposal and a "nonsensical approach," saying it doesn't work on them.
It added that Kim Yo-jong warned that South Korea should stop making unrealistic offers, but rather take appropriate action.
The developments and the speed at which this is unfolding are a shock no doubt for the Moon administration that had been reaching out to the North.
For now, it appears that any positive developments in terms of inter-Korean relations are on ice.
Back to you Mark.