(2 Feb 2012) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of news conference
2. Various of reporters at news conference
3. Wide of North Korea's National Defence Commission officials talking to reporter after news conference
4. Wide of National Defence Commission Policy Department officials Ri Son Gwon on left of frame, and Hong Sok Il on right of frame
5. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Ri Son Gwon, Official of Policy Department, North Korea's National Defence Commission:
"Recently the South has increased its calls for resumption of dialogue and improvement in relations between North and South. They've made these calls louder than ever, saying the gate for dialogue is open and that we should not miss the chance to answer."
6. Cutaway reporter's notebook on desk
7. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Ri Son Gwon, Official of Policy Department, North Korea's National Defence Commission:
"They make this show of calling for dialogue but behind it they say that cannot abandon their basic principles, which have led to the destruction of relations between North and South. They also intend to hold joint military exercises with the US like Key Resolve and Foal Eagle. Such a double-faced position and attitude makes us doubt whether the South truly wants dialogue and the improvement of the relationship between North and South."
8. Close of reporter taking notes
9. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Ri Son Gwon, Official of Policy Department, North Korea's National Defence Commission:
"The army and people of the DPRK think that if authorities in the South truly want dialogue and improvement of relations between North and South, they have to take a clear position on this. If a clear position is taken, then the dialogue can be resumed immediately, and the improve of relations between North and South, which have been on the brink of complete destruction, will be achieved."
10. Wide of National Defence Commission news conference
STORYLINE
North Korea on Thursday demanded several preconditions for resuming talks with rival South Korea, as it backed away from earlier vows to shun Seoul's conservative leader in what could be a sign of conciliation.
North Korean National Defence Commission announced a list of nine questions for authorities in Seoul to answer, saying that North-South talks depend on Seoul's response to these points.
The National Defence Commission officials said that North Korea had come up with these questions for the South in response to calls from Seoul for dialogue.
Speaking exclusively to The Associated Press Pyongyang after the news conference, National Defence Commission Policy Department official Ri Son Gwon called South Korea's position "double-faced", and blamed the South for the "destruction of relations between North and South" Korea.
But Ri said that "dialogue can be resumed immediately" if South Korea takes a clear position towards the North.
At Thursday's news conference, Ri also highlighted the first question on North Korea's list which requests South Korea to respond to the death of Kim Jong Il in the way that Pyongyang desires.
Among the other demands were that Seoul stop criticising Pyongyang over two deadly 2010 attacks blamed on North Korea, and follow through on previous agreements that call for South Korean investments in the North.
The North also demanded an end to US-South Korean military drills, which the allies hold regularly but that Pyongyang calls a rehearsal for war.
A round of military exercises are to start later this month.
South Korea, meanwhile, quickly called the demands "unreasonable."
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