North, South Korea Cancel High-Level Reparation Talks Scheduled This Week

South and North Korean officials cancelled cabinet-level talks in Seoul scheduled for Wednesday.

The two nations did not elaborate on their reason for dropping the plan, but told CNN that they were having difficulties finding appropriate representatives to lead the meeting.

When Pyongyang and Seoul announced on Thursday that they were prepared to sit down together and speak on economic revival plans, many regarded the move as an attempt to repair tense relations that have marred the two countries for months.

North Korea launched long-range rockets against South Korea's wishes in December. North Korean ally China even asked Pyongyang to hold off on nuclear programs, but the North refused to give them up. Meanwhile, a daily stream of threatening rhetoric poured in from both the Koreas.

Then, Pyongyang stopped all of its business activity in mid-April at the Kaesong Industrial zone, where the two nations use a shared facility for manufacturing. This move severed the last connection that the Koreas shared and it seemed Pyongyang and Seoul might be headed for war with one another.

The North suspended the predicament by asking for a meeting with The South, which Seoul gladly accepted. Officials even said The South "continuously" sought out reparations with the North on Kaesong, CNN reported.

On Sunday, the two nations joined up some lower-level officials to parse out initial details for Wednesday's talks. But North Korea quickly shot down The South's suggestion that Seoul Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae speak with Pyongyang's UM.

The North also rejected a list of five other negotiators South Korea brought to the table.

Neither country has released a date for rescheduling the talks.