South Korea's unification ministry on Monday called on North Korea to make efforts to bring peace to the divided peninsula as the two Koreas are set to mark the 10th anniversary of the second inter-Korean summit next month.

The Ministry of Unification urged North Korea to honor existing inter-Korean agreements and make efforts to improve Seoul-Pyongyang ties as the two Koreas will mark the summit anniversary on Oct. 4.

"The government honors all existing inter-Korean agreements including the Oct. 4 summit declaration. North Korea should respect all inter-Korean deals and come to the path toward better inter-Korean relations and peace," Baik Tae-hyun, ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing.

Former late President Roh Moo-hyun and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-il announced the Oct. 4 inter-Korean declaration on reconciliation in 2007 following their summit. In 2000, the two Koreas held their historic first summit in Pyongyang.
 

Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon plans to take part in a civilian event to mark the anniversary on Tuesday, marking the first time that the government will make its official hosting of the function.

For the past nine years under conservative administrations, a civic foundation designed to honor Roh hosted anniversary events. This year, the foundation, the ministry and the Seoul Metropolitan Government co-hosted the event.

Tensions are running high on the Korean Peninsula as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to take the "highest-level"

actions in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to destroy the North.

The government originally hoped that the two Koreas could hold reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War around the summit anniversary.

But North Korea has rejected Seoul's offers for dialogues and exchanges and been instead ratcheting up its war rhetoric and provocative acts including the sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3. (Yonhap)