A top South Korean official pressed North Korea Wednesday to follow up on leader Kim Jong-un's New Year's speech, in which he vowed efforts to improve inter-Korean ties.

Kim called for an epoch-making change in Seoul-Pyongyang relations this year as Korea marks the 70th anniversary of liberation from Japan's 35-year colonial rule. Kim even said he is open to a summit with the South's president.

Speaking at a forum in Seoul, Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said Kim's pledge would end up in empty talk if Pyongyang continues to boycott dialogue with the South. 

In late December, the South's presidential panel on reunification offered minister-level talks with the North, but Pyongyang has not responded to the proposal. It demands the South first halt its annual joint military drills with the United States and prevent activists here from scattering leaflets condemning and ridiculing the communist regime.

"What's important is our will (for dialogue) and North Korea's positive response," he said.

The minister reaffirmed that his government is willing to discuss all pending inter-Korean issues including a set of sanctions imposed in 2010 after the North's deadly torpedo attack on the Cheonan warship.

"If the May 24th Measures are lifted through dialogue, we will be able to expect brisk South-North exchanges," he said. "We expressed our willingness to talk with North Korea without limits on format due to a sense of urgency in the reunification era." (Yonhap)