Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Radical Improvement of Inter-Korean Relations Called for

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

    Pyongyang, May 4 (KCNA) -- There is a growing danger of a nuclear war against the north by foreign forces in Korea. This makes it incumbent upon the north and the south of Korea to boldly dispel the outdated idea of confrontation and earnestly promote the improvement of the relations through practical measures in order to defend the destiny of the nation and achieve common prosperity. Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in its signed article.
    It goes on:
    It is the realistic way for the radical improvement and development of the inter-Korean relations for the north and the south to recognize and respect each other's ideology and system in the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and take practical measures to this end.
    There have been different ideologies and systems in the north and the south for decades.
    It is the ignorance of the essence of the matter to argue that mutual exchange will lead to confidence building. One of the factors standing in the way of the development of the inter-Korean relations is the pattern of thinking originating from different ideologies and systems and legal and institutional problems resulting from them. Under this condition it is the best cure for the development of the inter-Korean relations to recognize the reality and respect each other's ideology and system. For a dramatic turn in the inter-Korean relations through the recognition and respect of each other's ideology and system, the ideas and practices of the old era of confrontation must be abandoned and all the anti-reunification institutional barriers such as the "National Security Law" repressing the desire for national reconciliation, unity and reunification through alliance with the north be pulled down in south Korea. Recognition and respect of each other's ideology and system and reconciliation based on it are, indeed, the bed-rock point of principle of practical significance in the development of the inter-Korean relations. The earliest possible solution to this matter is an urgent task that brooks no further delay for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration and the accomplishment of the cause of independent reunification. Depending on it is whether the inter-Korean relations enter the stage of fundamental development, braving the challenges and obstructions of the foreign forces, or fall into the crisis of severance.
    It is a bold decision for the country and the nation to take practical measures to recognize and respect each other's ideology and system. The south Korean authorities should respond to the call of the times and history by taking practical measures for the radical improvement of the inter-Korean relations as early as possible.