Demand of Present Times

The Korean nation is a homogeneous one of the same blood with a time-honoured history spanning 5 000 years.

The Korean people, however, are now suffering from the tragic division of the country into the north and the south, owing to the military occupation of its southern half by the United States, which had set foot on it nearly 70 years ago in the guise of “liberator.”

National division and the consequent inter-Korean confrontations have inflicted untold misfortunes on the Korean nation. Colossal amount of human and material wealth, which should have been used for independent development and co-prosperity of the Korean nation, has been wasted on fostering confrontations between fellow countrymen. Even at present the inter-Korean relations are repeating vicious cycles of mud-slinging and showdown, which increases the danger of an imminent nuclear war on the Korean peninsula.

Distrust and confrontation between the north and the south of Korea cause the greatest damage to the Korean nation, and also endanger peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world. It is, therefore, imperative for the Korean nation to put an end to the history of confrontation between the fellow countrymen, so as to clear up the danger of war threatening them and turn the Korean peninsula, one of the hottest spots in the world, into a permanent peace zone.

For this reason not only the Korean nation itself but also peace-loving people of the world demand that the inter-Korean confrontation should be stopped.

The present situation in which the political and military showdown has gone to such extremes that conflicts and a risk of war would ensue makes it more urgent to improve the inter-Korean relations.

It has been long recognized worldwide that the Korean nation is intelligent one with unrivalled creativity, and thus Korea, when it is reunified, will become stronger and more prosperous in all fields of politics, military affairs, the economy and culture.

Now is the time when the north and the south of Korea should put an end to the history of confrontation in accord with the demand of the times and the aspiration of the nation and open up a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity by joining efforts and wisdom.

When the relations between the north and the south are improved, it will provide a sure guarantee for ensuring peace on the Korean peninsula and open a broad prospect of unified development and common prosperity of the Korean nation. It was eloquently proved by the fact that the inter-Korean relations of distrust and confrontation were favourably turned to those of reconciliation and unity after the adoption of the June 15 Joint Declaration at the inter-Korean summit in June 2000. Now the Korean people are looking forward to the return of the June 15 reunification era, reminiscing with emotions about those days when the people in the north and the south from all walks of life travelled freely and shared compatriot feelings.

At present, the situation on the Korean peninsula has deteriorated to a very grave state that cannot be looked on with folded arms. At this critical moment, if any side regards the improvement of inter-Korean relations as beneficial to the other side and seeks only for confrontation, it is not a sincere attitude of those responsible for the destiny of the nation. Shunning the disgrace and misfortunes suffered by the nation and wasting time, captivated by narrow-minded factional interests and deep-rooted distrust in the fellow countrymen is as good as trampling down the national wish for reunification and committing crimes that will be cursed by the generations to come. The fierce confrontation and continuous mud-slinging between the fellow countrymen even in international arena is also an ugly scene to anybody.

It is not an impossible issue to eradicate north-south confrontations. It is surely possible if both sides have a firm will to dispel distrust and terminate confrontation of the past days from the standpoint of “By Our Nation Itself.”

The radical improvement of inter-Korean relations depends entirely on the attitudes and efforts of the both authorities.

Kim Jong Un, leader of the DPRK, said in his New Year Address that an atmosphere conducive to the improvement of inter-Korean relations must be created. As a part of this, the DPRK National Defence Commission made crucial proposals to the south Korean authorities that both sides must halt all sorts of recriminations and that the latter should stop unconditionally and immediately all military moves with the outsiders against fellow countrymen, and declared that the north would act first with substantial measures. It also proposed taking mutual measures in practice to prevent a nuclear holocaust.

The international community welcomes the DPRK’s proposals and sincerely hopes for their implementation.

But it is not by the efforts of one side that the relations between the north and the south can be improved.

The proposals with realistic and practical measures the DPRK made to the south Korean authorities have created conditions favourable for developing the inter-Korean relations in compliance with the aspiration of the times and desire of the nation. Now, the ball is in the court of south Korea: the south Korean authorities should refrain from shunning the DPRK’s appeal reflecting genuine patriotism and love for the nation, and make a bold decision. If they discard their hidebound sense of confrontation and take a resolute step to join hands with fellow countrymen in the north, any problem can be solved in inter-Korean relations.

The international community anticipates improved relations between the north and the south of Korea at an early date.