Unification minister Kwon Young-se has said that while North Korea's tight control over inter-Korean exchanges is likely aimed at taming the new administration in Seoul, it may also point to internal problems.

Kwon shared the assessment during a meeting on Friday with Buddhist monk Jinwoo, leader of the Jogye Order, noting that cross-border dialogue is cut off in all areas including government, society, culture, sports and religion.

He said the government has no intention of monopolizing cooperation and exchanges with the North and stressed that while it sternly deals with provocations, it also believes that facilitating humanitarian exchanges can help resolve the nuclear issue.

Kwon said that seeking active cooperation in nonpolitical areas such as cultural assets, religion and the environment is part of efforts to restore homogeneity between the two Koreas and not about shaking up the regime.

On Friday, the unification ministry also responded to North Korea's adoption of a new law on safeguarding state secrets, saying that Pyongyang appears to be tightening internal discipline and social order.