President Park Geun-hye on Monday urged North Korea to apologize over its recent mine attack amid rare high-level talks currently underway, stressing that it is necessary to defuse inter-Korean military tension and to prevent additional provocation by Pyongyang.

At a meeting with her senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, the president also said Seoul would keep its propaganda broadcasts and take responsive actions if Pyongyang refuses to apologize.

“I believe this is not a matter to step back from, even if North Korea poses threats to national security as it has done in the past,” she said.

“Not to repeat (North Korea‘s) provocation and (its attempt) to create an air of anxiety, there should be a clear apology and (measures) not to repeat such provocation.”

The remark came amid rare high-level talks between two Koreas aimed at defusing heightened tensions and growing fears that Pyongyang could gear up for possible strikes against Seoul.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)