Seoul will host its annual joint US military drills despite Pyongyang’s calls to stop the "provocative" war games.

Seoul will host its annual joint US military drills despite Pyongyang’s calls to stop the "provocative" war games, the Defense Ministry announced Friday.

South Korea also urged its neighbor to back up its words with action, after North Korea called on the South to stop the drills and jointly work to ease tensions including a moratorium on verbal attacks against each other.

The joint military maneuvers are scheduled for February and March.