North Korea sends 'open letter' to South urging improved relations
Pyongyang sends 'open letter' to Seoul saying military drills with US are obstacle to better ties
North Korea yesterday urged a sceptical South Korea to respond to a recent series of trust-building gestures and again called on Seoul to cancel military drills with the United States.
The latest apparent olive branch came in the form of an "open letter" sent to the South Korean authorities by the North's top military body on the direct orders of leader Kim Jong-un in an effort to promote "reconciliation and unity".
Carried by the North's official KCNA news agency, the letter followed up on a series of confidence-building proposals that South Korea has already dismissed as a "deceptive" propaganda exercise.
"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 the National Defence Commission (NDC) said.
A week earlier, the NDC had sent several proposals, urging South Korea to cancel the joint exercises with the United States.
Seoul not only dismissed the overtures, but warned that Pyongyang may well be laying the ground for a military confrontation.
"Regretfully, the South Korean authorities still remain unchanged in their improper attitude and negative stand," the NDC letter said.
