A pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan called on South Korea's new administration Wednesday not to follow in the footsteps of a "failed president" and engage in dialogue without setting any preconditions.

The article carried on the Chosun Sinbo, which is the official paper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, is noteworthy because it is the first time that Pyongyang – even indirectly – has commented on the new Park Geun-hye administration, which took power on Monday.

The media outlet did not specifically name Park or former President Lee Myung-bak, but claimed the previous administration bankrupted inter-Korean relations and pushed the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. It then referred to the previous administration's term in office as a "lost five years."

It also said Park's predecessor refuted the gains made by the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, or the June 15 Joint Declaration of 2000, and the 2007 Oct. 4 Joint Declaration, which set forth rules to expand cooperation between the two nations.

Chosun Sinbo mentioned the new South Korean leader's call during her inaugural speech to build trust through dialogue and contact with intent to lay the foundation for peace and improve inter-Korean relations.

The paper, however, said that if the South distorts the true nature of Pyongyang's nuclear program and demands for its weapons program to be dealt with first, there will be no gains in cross-border relations.

The North, despite warnings from the international community, detonated its third nuclear device on Feb. 12 and openly claimed that it is now a nuclear power, hinting it has no intention of giving up this capability.

Park, who is South Korea's first female president, said she is willing to talk with Pyongyang, although making clear that Seoul will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea. (Yonhap News)