Hopes for renewed inter-Korean dialogue have dimmed after North Korea on Monday firmly rejected the Lee Jae Myung administration’s efforts to revive talks and ease tensions.

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued a harsh statement accusing the South Korean government of “blindly adhering” to the South Korea-US alliance. She declared that Pyongyang would not engage in any talks with Seoul under the current administration.

“We are not interested in any policy or proposal put forward by Seoul,” Kim said, dismissing President Lee’s initiatives as unworthy of appreciation, including the suspension of anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts.

President Lee, who took office last month, has emphasized reconciliation through dialogue and halted various psychological operations aimed at the North. His administration has also urged civic groups to stop sending propaganda leaflets across the border.

However, Kim dismissed these moves as superficial and reiterated that North Korea views South Korea as a “hostile” and separate nation—abandoning previous inter-Korean unification goals.

She also rejected reports of a possible invitation for Kim Jong-un to attend the APEC summit in Gyeongju in October, calling it a “ridiculous delusion.”

Analysts say the North’s comments reflect dissatisfaction with upcoming joint South Korea-US military drills, particularly the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise set for mid-August.

Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies suggested these drills remain a key barrier to progress in inter-Korean relations.

Despite the setback, South Korea’s unification ministry reiterated that it will stay committed to peace and engagement. “We will calmly and consistently pursue reconciliation and cooperation,” said ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam.

North Korea’s latest stance underscores a new phase of hardline diplomacy, raising uncertainty over the future of peace on the Korean Peninsula.