BEIJING, Jan. 17 -- China on Friday called on the North and South of the Korean Peninsula to show goodwill and take substantial measures to improve bilateral relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the appeal at a regular press briefing.

"It conforms to the two sides' fundamental interests to improve bilateral relations and realize reconciliation and cooperation, as they belong to the same nation," Hong said.

It will also benefit regional peace and stability, he noted.

Hong's remarks came after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) called for ending hostilities between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula on Thursday.

In a statement released by the National Defense Commission (NDC), the DPRK made a three-point proposal to the Republic of Korea (ROK), calling for practical measures to halt "all acts of provoking and slandering the other side" and "all hostile military acts."

The NDC urged ROK to abandon joint military exercises with the United States, including the computer-simulated "Key Resolve" command post exercise and the "Foal Eagle" field training exercise scheduled from late February to April.

It also urged practical measures to be taken to prevent a "nuclear disaster" on the Korean Peninsula.

In response, ROK expressed regrets over the DPRK's appeal, urging Pyongyang to take "real action" to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.