North Korea has abruptly cancelled a joint cultural event with South Korea scheduled to be held ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said Pyongyang notified Seoul late Monday that it was calling off the event set to take place at the North’s Mount Geumgang on February fourth.

North Korea reportedly said in the notice that South Korean media was fanning public opinion that insults the North's sincere efforts made for the PyeongChang Olympics, leaving it with no choice but to cancel the agreed-upon event.

It also took issue with reports on the North's internal celebratory event, an apparent reference to a military parade planned for February eighth to mark the 70th anniversary of its army. 

The Seoul government said it was very regrettable that North Korea unilaterally called off the joint event, and stressed that Pyongyang should uphold all agreements made between the two Koreas.