North Korea calls for breakthrough in unification of the two Koreas
North Korea has called on "all Koreans at home and abroad" to make a "breakthrough" in unifying the two Koreas without the help of outside countries.
On January 25, North Korea called on "all Koreans at home and abroad" to make a "breakthrough" in unifying the two Koreas without the help of outside countries.
The announcement, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), called on all Koreans to "promote contact, travel and cooperation between the two Koreas," while asserting that Pyongyang would "smash" all obstacles that hinder efforts to reunify the Korean peninsula.
The statement, issued after a joint meeting of government and Workers' Party officials, also called on North Koreans to create momentum to ease current military tensions and create a peaceful atmosphere on the Korean peninsula.
KCNA asserted that military tensions on the Korean Peninsula are a “fundamental obstacle” to improving inter-Korean relations and efforts to reunify the two Koreas. Accordingly, joint exercises with “outside forces” have proven unhelpful in developing relations between the two Koreas.
The joint meeting was held to reinforce leader Kim Jong-un's statement on reunification efforts in his New Year's message. The statement said 2018 is a significant year for both North and South Korea as it marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea while South Korea will host the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics next month./.