"It’s hard to consider it as a sincere offer of dialogue," said a South Korean spokesman.

South Korea Dismissed on Monday North Korea’s latest offer of dialogue, saying Pyongyang should show sincerity and act to ease tensions.

"It's hard to consider it as a sincere offer of dialogue," said spokesman Chun Hae-Sung, adding the North should first show it is serious about nuclear disarmament.
"The door for dialogue is open if North Korea shows a sincere attitude," Chun said, adding that Seoul would review the North's proposal after monitoring its behavior.
"North Korea must also take responsible steps our people can accept" over the shelling and the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year, Chun said.

The North proposed on Saturday an "unconditional and early opening" of talks.
Tensions soared after the North shelled the border island on November 23 and killed two marines and two civilians.
The South says the North torpedoed a ship near the disputed Yellow Sea border with the loss of 46 lives, a charge that Pyongyang denies.

In a New Year message, Pyongyang had called for improved relations with Seoul. Last week the South's President Lee Myung-Bak said he was open to talks and held out the prospect of closer economic ties "if the North exhibits sincerity".