During Monday's discussion, Japanese lawmakers said it is understandable that the two Koreas have separated families and other issues to resolve, but the North's charm offensive could after all be an attempt to earn time for nuclear and missile development, according to Lim Byung-shik, a deputy spokesman of the National Assembly.

The Japanese legislators stressed that the North's nuclear program should first be frozen before the communist nation comes forward for talks to end its nuclear program.

In response, South Korean lawmakers said the United Nations has adopted a resolution calling for a halt to escalating tensions during the Winter Olympics and that the South can take advantage of lowered tensions to review and think about how to handle relations with the North.

Also on the table was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's call for swiftly resuming Korea-US military exercises that have been postponed until after the Olympics. Abe made the request during a summit with President Moon on Friday.

Moon has rejected the request, saying it is a matter of the country's sovereignty.

On Monday, Rep. Yun Ho-jung of the ruling Democratic Party told the inter-parliamentary meeting that he was grateful for Abe's visit to the South but that the Japanese leader lost points with a remark contrary to the festive mood.

Rep. Kim Han-jung of the ruling party also said South Korea will make a decision on its own based on what would be good for its national interest as well as peace in Northeast Asia and the world.

In response, Japanese lawmakers said Abe decided to make the visit despite strong opposition from within his own Liberal Democracy Party and that North Korea has so far engaged in acts that have led other nations to lose trust in it. (Yonhap)