SEOUL - South Korea's unification ministry on Friday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to take real action to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, in response to Pyongyang's fresh appeal for ending hostilities between the two Koreas.

"The essence of the nuclear issue (on the Korean Peninsula) lies at North Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear development," Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do told reporters at a regular press briefing. "If North Korea really wants peace on the Korean Peninsula, it should immediately take real action for the denuclearization."

Kim said that his comments were made to make an official response to Pyongyang's weighty proposal. The DPRK's National Defense Commission on Thursday called for a halt of verbal and military provocation between the two Koreas, urging practical measures to be taken to prevent a "nuclear disaster" on the peninsula.