Reports indicate Yu explained Seoul's stance on the recent shooting death of a South Korean tourist at a mountain resort in North Korea but Pyongyang's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun reportedly showed little response.

According to reports Yu is believed to have told Pak that if the shooting incident is not resolved it could affect the ongoing six-party nuclear talks and urged Pyongyang's cooperation.

South Korea has asked North Korea to allow investigators to visit the scene of the shooting for an official probe, but the North has so far disregarded Seoul's repeated requests.

An unnamed government official said Yu's conversation with the North Korean foreign minister was seen as an opportunity to clearly get Seoul's message across.

A North Korean foreign ministry official who met with reporters in Singapore reiterated that the shooting incident is not a matter that falls under the jurisdiction of his ministry.

Seoul has stated that it will seek help from the international community if Pyongyang ignores calls for a joint inter-Korean investigation into the shooting.

Arirang News