The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae has denied news reports that North Korea has requested that South Korea call off the annual joint drill with the U.S. 

Media reports said that at the Red Cross Convention in Turkey last month, the North proposed that a cancellation of the joint drill would help it decide to take part in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 

An official told reporters Friday that while there was a meeting between inter-Korean Red Cross officials, it was not an appropriate setting to discuss military exercises. 

He stated he had confirmed with the National Security Council which said that the media reports were unfounded.