Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo says that the government will make efforts for steady progress in inter-Korean relations without being swayed by the recent breakdown in high-level inter-Korean talks.

The minister made the remarks on Monday during a forum hosted by the Korean Association of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Hong said that it is hard to eliminate long-standing distrust between the two Koreas in a day.

The minister said that the Seoul government will encourage inter-Korean exchanges in the private sector rather than one-time exchanges. He added that the government will work to set a tradition for the two sides to constantly discuss issues of mutual concern.