South Korean marine soldiers in a military drill with US armed forces. (Photo: AFP)

(VOVworld) – Pyongyang on Thursday called on Seoul to halt cross-border slanders that may lead to military actions on the Korean peninsula and to take joint steps to prevent a possible nuclear catastrophe.

According to the Korean central news agency KCNA the North’s National Defense Commission made the proposal focusing on possibly improving inter-Korean relations including sensitive issues like reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Improvement can be realized if both sides exert efforts to implement the proposal from the end of this month to build mutual trust.

Insisting that Pyongyang still wants to pursue denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the Commission urged Seoul to halt its military exercises with the US and give up its two-faced policies.

Earlier, Pyongyang asked Seoul and Washington to cancel an annual military maneuver scheduled for next month.