South Korea's unification ministry criticized Friday a statement issued earlier in the day by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), calling it " propaganda offensive" that is "unhelpful" in mending strained ties between the two Koreas.

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang's Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland said the government?in Soeul?is blocking inter-Korean dialogues and civilian exchanges and urged talks between legislators of the two sides.

Calling the committee's claims "arbitrary," unification spokesman Chun Hae-sung told reporters in a press briefing that such claims would not help improve frayed inter-Korean relations.

"The government believes that the continuation of this kind of hackneyed propaganda offensive does not show sincerity" on the part of the DPRK, as the two estranged Koreas are currently discussing holding a preliminary meeting to discuss high-level military talks, Chun said.

South Korea suggested earlier this week holding a preparatory working-level meeting on Feb. 11 in the border village of Panmunjom to discuss high-level military talks over pending military issues.

The issues include the sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on Pyongyang and Pyongyang's shelling attack on an inhabited South Korean border island, which altogether killed 50 South Koreans. The DPRK has denied its responsibility for the sinking and claimed the attack was a self-defensive measure against a military drill by Seoul and Washington near a disputed maritime border.

Seoul also recently proposed separate inter-Korean talks aimed at confirming Pyongyang's commitment to ending its nuclear program. Pyongyang has yet to officially respond.