Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong has postponed his visit to Pakistan this week due to the ongoing political crisis with North Korea, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Cho, who was scheduled to leave for Islamabad Monday, called his Pakistani counterpart, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, to explain why he has postponed the trip, saying he will reschedule it for a mutually convenient time within the year, the ministry said in a text message to reporters.

The officials had been scheduled to meet Tuesday for the ninth round of vice ministerial policy talks aimed at enhancing political, economic and development ties.

Chaudhry said he understands the situation and hopes to work together to reschedule the visit for a mutually convenient time in the near future, according to the ministry.

Cho's decision reflects the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following this month's landmine attack and artillery exchange, with high-level negotiations under way for the third straight day in an effort to defuse the situation. (Yonhap)