South Korea’s unconditional offer for talks has been met with conditional hostility. On Tuesday, North Korea condemned a new submarine deal between Seoul and Washington, warning of a “nuclear domino” effect. The response suggests that while the offer was unconditional, the North’s engagement is conditional on military issues.
The deal was announced last week by President Lee Jae Myung. It allows South Korea to expand its authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing. North Korea described the move as a “dangerous attempt at confrontation,” predicting a “hot arms race.”
The unconditional offer was a bold move by President Lee. He proposed military talks to prevent border clashes, the first offer in seven years. However, the North’s focus on the submarine deal shows that they are not ready to embrace the spirit of the offer.
The “nuclear domino” warning implies that the conditions for peace are not met. North Korea is arguing that the South’s actions preclude dialogue. This narrative rejects the unconditional approach.
North Korea has yet to respond to the proposal for talks. The focus on hostility suggests that the offer remains on the table, untouched. The region waits for a breakthrough.