North Korea extends olive branch to South Korea

North Korea has extended an olive branch to South Korea, saying it is eager to create an atmosphere of reconciliation between the two neighbors.

In an open letter published on Friday, North Korea’s National Defense Commission (NDC) vowed to work to “completely halt hostile military acts, realize the reunion of separated families and relatives,… and reenergize multi-faceted north-south cooperation and exchanges.”

“What is important for paving a wide avenue for mending North-South relations is to make a bold decision to stop all hostile military acts, the biggest hurdle stoking distrust and confrontation,” the letter said.

Last week, the North Korean commission sent a number of proposals, calling on Seoul to withdraw from a planned joint military maneuver with the United States and proposing a mutual moratorium on the blame game by the two nations.

However, Seoul dismissed Pyongyang’s moves as a “deceptive” propaganda exercise, and expressed suspicions that the country might be preparing a provocative act aimed at triggering a new confrontation.

“Regretfully, the South Korean authorities still remain unchanged in its improper attitude and negative stand,” the NDC letter said.

The South “should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal,” it added.

“Foreign forces are wholly to blame for this tragic and disgraceful history of the nation.”

The Korean Peninsula has been locked in a cycle of escalating military rhetoric since the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, but Seoul is still technically at war with Pyongyang since the battle ended in an armistice.