ROK refuses DPRK's offer to stop military hostilities

The Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday refused the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s proposal to stop all military hostilities from July 4, an official of the Unification Ministry said.

The official said on the phone that the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs will announce an official response to the DPRK's offer on Monday soon, saying that the government decided to refuse the proposal.

The National Defense Commission, the DPRK's top military body, proposed Monday the scrapping of this year's Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercise between Seoul and Washington to create a better atmosphere for the upcoming Asian Games in ROK's Incheon.

The DPRK's military body suggested the stop of all military hostilities against each other from July 4, which marks the 42nd anniversary of the issuance of the July 4 North-South Joint Statement, a historic document stating a set of principles were agreed between the two Koreas for achieving reunification.