Seoul to continue push for peace despite Kim Yo-jong’s rebuke

North Korea issued its first official comments directed at the Lee Jae Myung administration on Monday, calling South Korea an "enemy" and rejecting talks.

But Seoul says it's staying the course.

Kim Jung-sil reports.

South Korea says it won't be swayed from its push for peace.

Following North Korea's first official statement since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, the presidential office said Monday it's taking the North's remarks seriously, but insists its focus remains on building peace through steady, necessary action.

At the Unification Ministry, the message was much the same.

"We believe the statement shows Pyongyang is closely watching our policy direction. While distrust from the North remains deep, our push for peace and inter-Korean cooperation will continue, calmly and with consistency."

"Officials here say they won't be swayed by every comment from Pyongyang, and that they're sticking to a steady, non-confrontational approach."

But the tone from the North was very different.

The statement came earlier in the day from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un.

She dismissed Seoul's suspension of border loudspeaker broadcasts as "not worthy of recognition," and criticized other recent moves, including talk of resuming tourism and halting leaflet campaigns.

She also rejected speculation that Kim Jong-un might be invited to the APEC meeting in the South, calling the idea a "vain illusion."

Kim accused the South of being trapped in the "ghost of unification by absorption," and said North Korea no longer sees the South as part of "one people," but simply as another state.

"Even before Seoul's new cabinet takes shape, North Korea is rejecting anything it sees as a threat to its interests. With no shift in the ROK-U.S. alliance, the North sees little value in peace overtures."

Analysts say Pyongyang may be rejecting dialogue to sideline Seoul and entrench its two-state strategy, a move that runs directly against the South's push for reconciliation.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.