Unification Minister Lee In-young waves his hand toward North Korean soldiers observing his visit to the truce village of Panmunjeom, Wednesday. / Joint press corps

By Kang Seung-woo, Joint press corps

Unification Minister Lee In-young urged North Korea to put inter-Korean agreements into action, Wednesday, and return to negotiations amid a deadlock in bilateral relations.

He also called for an early restoration of consultation channels between the South and North, including a liaison office that was demolished by Pyongyang in June.

Lee's pleas came during his first visit to the truce village of Panmunjeom since his inauguration in July, and days ahead of the second anniversary of a summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, Sept. 19, 2018, during which they signed agreements to reduce military tensions and bolster cooperation.

"Agreement must be kept and they can be completed by implementation," Lee said. "In order to complete the determination of the two leaders and restart the timeline for the South and North, joint efforts between the two Koreas should continue to move things forward."

He added: "I expect the North to respond to our call for the implementation of the joint agreements."