Seoul maintains a “firm” stance on the North Korean human rights issue, but needs “more preparation” before including it on the agenda of ongoing inter-Korean meetings, South Korea’s top diplomat said on Wednesday.

The Moon administration will “continue to endeavor” to advance the issue in accordance with the country’s North Korean human rights law, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said.

“The purpose of the human rights law is to put efforts into developing inter-Korean relations and establishing peace in parallel with the improvement of the North Korean human rights situation,” Kang said at a regular news conference in Seoul.

When asked