North Korea on Monday sent an open invitation letter for South Korean politicians and former inter-Korean policymakers to come to Pyongyang or Kaesong around the upcoming Korean Independence Day (August 15) to discuss resolving the current inter-Korean deadlock.

The North Korean invitation list included people from across the political spectrum, such as Lee Hui-ho, the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, to officials from the conservative, often anti-North Saenuri Party. But Seoul firmly denied Pyongyang’s invitation, saying it “lacks sincerity.”

“(By sending this open letter) we are reiterating our firm intent to hold truthful conversations with anyone, coming from