SEOUL -- The Republic of Korea expressed regrets Monday over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s "threat" of stern punishment against Seoul's distortion of Pyongyang's willingness toward dialogue.

Unification Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing that it was very regrettable for the DPRK to distort and denounce Seoul's will to improve inter-Korean ties and even "threaten" the country through the DPRK's National Defense Commission statement.

The spokesman blamed Pyongyang for no clear response to Seoul's dialogue offer for almost a month, stressing that there is no change in its position that South Korea is ready to resolve all issues of mutual concern through dialogue irrespectively of dialogue form.

Lim urged Pyongyang to come forward to the dialogue table "without hesitation" to talk about what it wants if the DPRK really wants to enhance inter-Korean relations, calling for Pyongyang not to make unilateral claims.