North Korea's state media on Monday cranked up their rhetoric for reunification, calling it the "greatest undertaking" for all Koreans, while urging loyalty toward its leader Kim Jong-un.

Marking the 71st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, the North's media outlets also intensified their offensive against "hostile forces," berating them for isolating their country and undermining unification efforts.

"Unification is the most urgent, life-or-death, greatest undertaking for the entire nation," said an editorial, carried by the Rodong Sinmun, the daily of the North's ruling Workers' Party.

"All of Koreans should tear down the barriers of division, based on the power of the unity, and open a grand path for unification."

Pyongyang has long called for unification, a move that critics here say is intended to drive out U.S. forces in the South and push for a campaign to communize the entire Korean Peninsula.

The North's propaganda media outlet, DPRK Today, meanwhile, stepped up its offensive for dialogue, upbraiding South Korean authorities for dismissing Pyongyang's overtures for talks. DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The communist regime has recently made a series of offers for dialogue, but Seoul has dismissed them as lacking sincerity based on the fact that Pyongyang has shown no desire to engage in any negotiations to end its nuclear program, the biggest security challenge to South Korea.

"While rejecting our sincere offers for dialogue, the South Korean authorities, in collusion with foreign forces, have been expanding their political and military provocations in a stepwise fashion," DPRK Today said in an article.

The media outlet also pressured Seoul and Washington to cancel their plan to stage their upcoming Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercise, which starts Aug. 22 for an around two-week run.

The North has long criticized the drills as a rehearsal for an invasion into its territory, while the allies have maintained that the drills are strictly defensive in nature. (Yonhap)