Inter-Korean relations have not progressed much in recent months with major cross-border projects on hold, apparently affected by a lack of progress in denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington since their no-deal summit in February.

North Korea is even refusing to accept South Korea's food aid through the World Food Programme, expressing displeasure with Seoul's plan to go ahead with its joint military exercise with the US next month.

"We will focus on confirming the North's official stance on our rice assistance plan through the WFP and review and take relevant procedures going forward," the ministry said.

A ministry official told reporters that all necessary preparatory steps, including getting the sanctions exemptions needed to deliver the assistance, have not moved forward as the ministry is still waiting to hear from the WFP on the North's stance.

He noted, however, that the WFP is saying that discussions are still under way with North Korea on the rice provision. Seoul wants the first shipment of the rice assistance to be made before the end of July with an aim to complete the delivery by September.

"It appears unlikely to send the first shipment this month but we adhere to the objective to finalize the delivery by September," he said.

Meanwhile, the ministry said that it will also provide continued support for the North and the United States to resume their agreed-upon working-level talks on denuclearization as soon as possible.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump held a surprise meeting last month at the inter-Korean border and agreed to resume nuclear talks within a few weeks.

The meeting was expected to be held in mid-July but North Korea has apparently not responded to Washington's subsequent offer for dialogue. On Monday (Washington time), US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he's hopeful working-level talks with North Korea will resume "very soon."

The ministry said that it will keep working to strengthen the "virtuous circle" between progress in the North's denuclearization, relations between Pyongyang and Washington and advance in inter-Korean ties. (Yonhap)