Kim Yong-chol, a senior North Korean ruling party official, has blasted South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who demanded Pyongyang to completely withdraw military action plans it had for Seoul.

In a statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency Wednesday, Kim also said now is a "critical moment" when the North can predict the prospects of cross-border ties based on the South's "future attitude and approach."

Earlier, Jeong called on the regime to scrap the plans altogether, including the redeployment of troops to border areas, rather than a temporary suspension as announced by the North.

The KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong-un decided to hold off on the military action plans in an apparent move to ease strained relations after weeks of fiery rhetoric and saber-rattling.

Kim said the South should "think and behave wisely" if it does not want to see the North use coarse language and called for mutual respect and trust.

<Photo: Yonhap News>

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