The military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is slowly easing its battle-readiness posture, officials of the Republic of Korea and the United States said on Wednesday after Seoul and Pyongyang secured a deal allowing them to avoid an armed clash.

Seoul said on Wednesday that it is willing to discuss Pyongyang's demand for an end to sanctions imposed over a 2010 naval attack.

"When talks get under way, we think the May 24 issue will be raised by the DPRK, which has an interest in it, and I think it can be handled through dialogue," ROK's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said.