Unification minister urges N. Korean leader to resume dialogue

South Korea’s unification minister has called on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to cease the country’s provocative acts and return to the dialogue table.

Jong-un stressed that Seoul has no hostile intentions toward Pyongyang.

This was made known in a meeting with reporters; Kwon Young-se also urged the North’s leader to look back on the country’s worsening economic situation amid global sanctions.

He said the global sanctions over the North’s nuclear and missile programs and severe food shortages were issued to be discussed.

“We don’t have any hostile intentions against North Korea and will not seek any change of the status quo through power,” Kwon told a news conference.

The briefing was to mark the first anniversary of his taking office as Seoul’s top point man on unification.

He said his government is ready to discuss any issues with the North and urged Kim to seek cooperation and dialogue.

The call came as North Korea announced the completion of preparations to mount its first military spy satellite on a rocket, raising speculation that the secretive regime may launch it as early as June.

A senior official at Seoul’s unification ministry said the satellite launch “does not appear to be imminent,’’ as Pyongyang is likely to first notify related international organizations of its plan for the launch.

The official also said the government was preparing for measures against North Korea.

This included legal action over its unauthorized use of South Korean assets at a now-shuttered joint industrial park in the North’s border city of Kaesong.

This acted as the demolition of South Korean-built facilities at the Mount Kumgang resort.

“The government has the basic stance that it will not tolerate any acts that infringe on the property rights of South Koreans.

“Given that the North has refused to talk, we are preparing for legal steps by cooperating with those who have suffered damage,’’ he added.