North Korea on Sunday lashed out at Japan's hawkish prime minister for seeking to revise Tokyo's pacifist post-World War II constitution, calling Shinzo Abe a "militarist maniac".

In a New Year comment Abe said the country's constitution -- which limits its military to self-defense -- could be amended by 2020, days after his visit to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo enraged Asian neighbors.

North Korea Thursday rejected a South Korean proposal for resuming reunions for families separated by the Korean War, citing planned South-U.S. military exercises as a major barrier.

The North's main body for inter-Korean affairs said it would like to get the reunions going again, but questioned the South's sincerity.

A Japanese professional wrestler-turned-lawmaker will visit North Korea next week, his secretary said Thursday, as attention was focused on the Pyongyang antics of eccentric ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman.

Antonio Inoki is a frequent visitor to the reclusive communist state. During his last trip in November, he met Jang Song-Thaek, the uncle of young leader Kim Jong-Un who was purged and executed last month.

North Korea announced Wednesday elections to its rubber-stamp parliament in March, the first under leader Kim Jong-Un as he seeks to cement his grip on power after purging his uncle.

The presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) decided the election -- held every five years -- would take place on March 9, the North's official KCNA news agency said.

The U.S. military will deploy 800 additional troops from an armored unit to South Korea to bolster its forces in case of a crisis with North Korea, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The U.S. Army soldiers, armored vehicles and tanks from the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment will be stationed at camps Hovey and Stanley near the demarcation line with the North starting next month, military officers said.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye called Monday for the resumption of reunions for families separated since the Korean War, saying the program could help ease "grave" strains with North Korea.

Park, in a New Year press conference, also promised increased humanitarian aid to the impoverished North to improve relations at a time of growing uncertainty.

North Korea slammed South Korea on Sunday for dismissing a peace overture by leader Kim Jong-Un, accusing Seoul of "pouring cold water" on its attempt to mend ties.

During his New Year address last Wednesday, Kim hailed the execution last month of his once-powerful uncle, and accused the U.S. and South Korea of maneuvering for a nuclear war.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Wednesday called for the construction of "world-class" structures, praising the speedy completion of his pet ski resort project.

"The construction sector should set up world-class structures ... and build many other structures that could contribute to improving the people's living conditions," Kim said in a New Year message broadcast on state TV.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un called for unity in a New Year message Wednesday and hailed the execution of his once-powerful uncle as a resolute act to remove "factionalist scum".

"Our party took resolute action to remove... factionalist scum within the party last year," Kim said in his message broadcast on state TV.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said Wednesday the Korean peninsula would be engulfed by "massive nuclear disaster" if war breaks out there again, warning the U.S. it will not be safe in the event of a conflict.

"If the war breaks out again in this land, it will bring about a massive nuclear disaster and the U.S. will never be safe," Kim said in his New Year message, broadcast on state TV.