North Korea has turned down South Korea's offer of talks on their joint venture in Kaesong, again taking issue with propaganda leaflets sent from the South, an official here said Tuesday.

In a fax message, the North demanded a halt to the scattering of anti-communist leaflets across the border by South Korean civic groups as a precondition for discussions on improving business conditions at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, according to the unification ministry official.

Earlier this month, Seoul proposed sub-panel talks on cross-border travel, communication and customs at the park. The South hopes for around-the-clock entry into the Kaesong facilities by its citizens and Internet services there.

But Pyongyang claimed it can't have such talks as South Koreans keep flying leaflets into the North and violating rules at the industrial park, the ministry official told reporters on background.

It's "quite an example of misbehavior" to refuse talks aimed at resolving the Kaesong problems on the pretext of such an issue unrelated with the development of the inter-Korean project, he stressed, adding that he was conveying the government's official position. (Yonhap)