South Korea's no to North Korean offer to stop hostilities

, July 1:

on Tuesday turned down a North Korean proposal to stop all

hostilities from Friday, saying it lacked sincerity.

"North Korea made a proposal lacking sincerity yesterday (Monday), while putting in an absurd assertion that we are held responsible for soured inter-Korean relations and mounting military tensions between the two Koreas," Xinhua quoted South Korea's unification ministry as saying.

North Korea's nuclear and missile developments have been a fundamental threat to peace and future on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry said.

If North Korea really wants peace on the Korean Peninsula, it should first stop slandering and posing provocative threats to South Korea, while showing its sincerity in solving the nuclear issue, the ministry added.

North Korea's national defence commission Monday proposed scrapping of this year's Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercise between Seoul and the US to create a better atmosphere for the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

The North Korean military suggested that both sides stop all hostilities against each other from July 4, which marks the 42nd anniversary of the North-South Joint Statement, a historic document enunciating a set of principles agreed by the two Koreas to achieve reunification.

IANS