NKorea withdraws offer to discuss reunions‚ tours

AP

SEOUL: North Korea has withdrawn an offer for talks on reunions of separated Korean families and resuming tours to a North Korean mountain resort.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said Thursday that North Korea

instead wants to focus on ongoing negotiations meant to reopen a shuttered jointly run factory complex.

The two Koreas recently agreed on a desire to reopen the Kaesong complex north of their border, but they're still discussing how to do that.

Talks aimed at restarting the factory park ended Wednesday with no breakthrough. But both sides agreed to meet again Monday to discuss restoring what was once a symbol of cooperation between the rivals.

Seoul says it will again ask North Korea to agree to talks on family reunions.