South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that his government is willing to open up dialogue with the North “without conditions”, but only if the DPRK ceases its missile and nuclear tests.

At a ceremony marking the occasion of 17th anniversary of the June 15th South-North Joint Declaration, Moon said South – North relations should be “newly established and developed to resolve the crisis we face today.”

“If North Korea stops additional missile and nuclear provocations, we will dialogue with the North without any conditions,” Moon said. “We urge the North to respond.”

But Moon argued that North Korea’s “words and actions were separate”,