The government has denounced North Korea's invitations for talks with South Korean civic groups.

A Unification Ministry official on Thursday addressed the proposal by the North for meetings in a third country, likening it to an offer to get along that followed a slap in the face.

The official said the South Korean groups are not responding to the North’s offer and have not made any official requests to the government to hold contacts with the North.
 
Following its fourth nuclear test on January sixth, North Korea sent fax messages to four South Korean civic groups, including a religious organization, and proposed that they meet in China to hold discussions on exchange projects for this year.
 
The ministry official said that no direct contact with the North is allowed, regardless of the location, hinting that it will also prohibit South Korean groups from making a similar request.
 
An international football tournament organized by a South Korean organization, which was to open in China later this month, was indefinitely postponed amid the latest situation. 
 
The event was set to involve the participation of eight teams from six countries, including the two Koreas.