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North Korea in 'reconciliation' call to the South | North Korea in 'reconciliation' call to the South |
(35 minutes later) | |
North Korea has sent an open letter to the South calling for reconciliation and an end to "hostile military acts". | North Korea has sent an open letter to the South calling for reconciliation and an end to "hostile military acts". |
The letter, published in North Korea's state media, comes weeks before South Korea is due to hold joint military drills with the US. | The letter, published in North Korea's state media, comes weeks before South Korea is due to hold joint military drills with the US. |
South Korea dismissed the letter as having a "hidden motive". | South Korea dismissed the letter as having a "hidden motive". |
Correspondents say that tensions on the Korean peninsula traditionally rise ahead of the annual drills, which Pyongyang has condemned as provocative. | Correspondents say that tensions on the Korean peninsula traditionally rise ahead of the annual drills, which Pyongyang has condemned as provocative. |
Last year, the military exercises, known as "Foal Eagle", led to an unusually sharp and protracted surge in tensions. The North threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes, as nuclear-capable US stealth bombers flew practice runs over the peninsula. | |
The military drills scheduled for next month are a source of great irritation to the North, which sees them as aggressive preparations for war. | |
While North Korea is appearing to offer reconciliation, its rhetoric has been accompanied by thinly-veiled threats not to "rashly reject" the proposals, the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul reports. | |
The question on many minds is what the North will do when the drills go ahead, our correspondent adds. | |
'Getting on nerves' | 'Getting on nerves' |
"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 from North Korea's National Defence Commission (NDC) said. | "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 from North Korea's National Defence Commission (NDC) said. |
"The DPRK [North Korea] has already unilaterally opted for halting all acts of getting on the nerves of South Korea and slandering it." | "The DPRK [North Korea] has already unilaterally opted for halting all acts of getting on the nerves of South Korea and slandering it." |
"Regretfully, the South Korean authorities still remain unchanged in [their] improper attitude and negative stand," it said, adding that the South "should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal". | "Regretfully, the South Korean authorities still remain unchanged in [their] improper attitude and negative stand," it said, adding that the South "should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal". |
The letter was apparently sent by special order of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It calls on the South to take a bold decision to "stop all hostile military acts" and prevent "impending nuclear disasters". | The letter was apparently sent by special order of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It calls on the South to take a bold decision to "stop all hostile military acts" and prevent "impending nuclear disasters". |
South Korean defence ministry spokesman Wi Yong-seop said: "The most important military tactic is to figure out the enemy's hidden motive." | South Korean defence ministry spokesman Wi Yong-seop said: "The most important military tactic is to figure out the enemy's hidden motive." |
He added that existing tensions were the result of "North Korea's military provocations" and that "the current situation can be resolved if North Korea stops threatening and hostile rhetoric". | He added that existing tensions were the result of "North Korea's military provocations" and that "the current situation can be resolved if North Korea stops threatening and hostile rhetoric". |
'Provoking and slandering' | 'Provoking and slandering' |
This letter follows a proposal from the NDC a week ago that South Korea should cancel the annual drills with the US. | This letter follows a proposal from the NDC a week ago that South Korea should cancel the annual drills with the US. |
It also said the two sides should stop "all acts of provoking and slandering" each other. | It also said the two sides should stop "all acts of provoking and slandering" each other. |
Seoul has responded by warning that Pyongyang may be contemplating a provocative act aimed at triggering a confrontation. | Seoul has responded by warning that Pyongyang may be contemplating a provocative act aimed at triggering a confrontation. |
In March 2013, North Korea made multiple threats against the South and the US following the "Foal Eagle" drill. | |
Pyongyang warned of a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on the US, said it was scrapping the Korean War armistice, and closed the jointly-run Kaesong industrial park for months. | |
This round of exercises comes amid ongoing concerns over stability inside North Korea. | |
On 13 December, North Korea announced that it had executed Kim Jong-un's uncle, Chang Song-thaek, for "acts of treachery". | |
The apparent purge was unusually high-profile, with photographs of Mr Chang - a major powerbroker - being arrested and hauled in front of a military trial broadcast on state television. | |