North Korea has rejected the South Korean government’s Monday proposal for face-to-face talks to discuss pending issues over inter-Korean cooperation at Mount Kumgang, the Ministry of  Unification (MOU) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The response came a day after the South Korean government formally suggested in-person working-level talks between the two sides, in a notice sent to the North’s Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC) via the inter-Korean liaison office at Kaesong.

The Hyundai Asan company, which owns property at the resort, also separately on Monday proposed consultation on the “new development direction” of the Mount Kumgang tourist area, along with