The two Koreas skipped a senior-level weekly meeting for the ninth consecutive week, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification (MOU) said on Friday, even though directors of both countries are reportedly on duty at the inter-Korean liaison office.

North Korea’s director at the office, Jon Jong Su, informed the South Korean side in advance that he would not be able to attend the weekly meeting, deputy MOU spokesperson Lee Eu-gene told a press briefing.

Vice Minister of Unification Chun Hae-sung — South Korea’s liaison office director — nevertheless visited the office on Friday as scheduled to handle pending issues, while North Korean