It is the Invariable Stand of The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 

To Improve the Inter-Korean Relations and Achieve National Reconciliation and Unity

 

 

I have organized today’s press conference to brief you on our principled stands with regard to the important proposals made by the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 16th January 2014.

As is already known, the respected Marshall KIM JONG UN, FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE COMMISSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA has warmly called upon in his historic New Year’s Address for 2014 to bring about a favorable atmosphere for improving the relations between the north and the south of Korea and ensuring the peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

The National Defence Commission of the DPRK in this connection has made the following proposals to the south Korean authorities upon authorization of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK.

First, we propose taking practical measures in hearty response to the warm call for creating a favorable atmosphere for improving the north-south relations.

It is the invariable stand of the army and people of the DPRK to mend the north-south relations and achieve national reconciliation and unity.

Therefore we officially propose the south Korean authorities to take a practical measure of halting all acts of provoking and slandering the other side from January 30, a day before the Lunar New Year’s Day.

This year is a significant year marking the 10th anniversary of the “June 4 agreement” in which the north and the south agreed to stop all forms of slanders and psychological warfare in the spirit of the historic June 15 joint declaration.

If south Korea respects this agreement it signed, there won’t be any reason whatsoever for it not to accept our proposal.

If the south Korean authorities have true intent for improving the north-south relations, they should definitely end the vicious cycle of slandering and hatred that are harmful to all and listen to the voices of the fellow countrymen calling for reconciliation of the nation.

Second, we propose taking a practical step of halting all hostile military acts against the other side in response to the historic call for ensuring the security and peace of the nation.

Even minor and accidental conflict can immediately lead to an all-out war on the Korean peninsula. This is a stark reality today. Any war on the Korean peninsula will help big powers fish in troubled waters and bring unimaginable destruction to Koreans.

Therefore, we again propose immediately and unconditionally halting all military and hostile acts targeting the fellow countrymen in collusion with outsiders.

For the present the south Korean authorities should take a crucial political decision of canceling Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises which they plan to stage from the end of February under the pretext of “annual and defensive drills”.

If the “coordination” and “cooperation” with the U.S. are so precious and valuable, they had better hold the exercises in the secluded area or in the U.S. far away from the territorial land, sea and air of the Korean peninsula. This is the stand of the DPRK.

Explicitly speaking, the DPRK will never take military acts with outsiders detrimental to the nation’s security and peace in the future, either, as in the past.

We specially propose stopping all acts provoking the other side on the ground and in the sea and air including five islands in the West Sea, hot spots where both sides are in acute show-down, leveling their guns at each other.

The DPRK side will show its practical action first for the realization of this proposal.

Third, we propose taking practical measures to be beneficial to each other to prevent a nuclear holocaust from being inflicted on the Korean peninsula.

The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a goal common to the nation. This is also the invariable will of the army and people of the DPRK.

The possession of nuclear weapons and the pursuance of the line on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and buildup of a nuclear force are a treasured sword common to the nation and the most just option for self-defense which aims at ending the nuclear threat and blackmail against all Koreans by the U.S. and envisages the Korean peninsula and the rest of the world free from nuclear weapons.

Our nuclear force serves as a means for deterring the U.S. from posing a nuclear threat. It will never be a means for blackmailing the fellow countrymen and doing harm to them.

We courteously propose the south side not to resort to reckless acts of bringing dangerous nuclear strike means of the U.S. to south Korea and to areas around it.

It is the stand of the DPRK to resolutely break with the double-dealing stand of tolerating nuclear weapons of outsiders which are harmful to the fellow countrymen while denying the nuclear weapons of fellow countrymen which protect the nation.

These crucial proposals reflect the desire and wish of all the Koreans to reject outsiders and bring earlier the independent reunification, peace and prosperity of the nation from the standpoint of By Our Nation Itself.

The inter-Korean relations are very significant in the development of the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and it is only when the relations are settled that the peace and security on the Korean peninsula and its vicinity are ensured with the way forward wide-open.

Many countries are now talking about the peace and security on the Korean peninsula. Our principled proposals true to their meaning are the first step to that end.

In improving the relations between the north and the south and ensure the peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region, it is imperative to halt slandering, stop hostile military acts between the both of sides and create climate of reconciliation.

We do not want to see the north-south relations compelled into critical tension. We are patiently making every effort to drive the relations between the north and the south towards the reconciling mood.

That is why the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the supreme organ of state has made such proposals which are related to the inter-Korean affairs belonging to the mandate of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

The proposals made by our supreme organ of state are not aiming at putting pressure on the south Korean authorities. It is for south Korea to take our proposals seriously and have a sincere attitude toward improving the north-south relations.

It is our position that the international community should no longer permit the United States and south Korea to carry on their dangerous military joint exercises on the Korean peninsula.

We remind once again that even minor and accidental conflict can immediately lead to an all-out war. This is a stark reality on the Korean peninsula.

We never want to see things fall out of control and plunge into unimaginable disaster.

The United States and south Korea are now misleading the public opinion as if the present stalemate and hostility in the inter-Korean relations are due to the DPRK.

They are deliberately creating tension by fabricating non-existent “state of emergency”, “provocations” and “threats” from the DPRK. Defiant of the demands of the international community for the peace and security on the Korean peninsula, the United States and south Korea are even planning to stage aggressive Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises against the DPRK, deceiving the world under the pretext of “annual and defensive exercises” from the end of February.

The annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises are undeniably war games of invasion into and nuclear war drills against the DPRK in their nature and size when you look at the massive arms buildup of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons and most sophisticated war machines of army, navy and air forces being deployed by the United States into south Korea.

If the United States and south Korea dare to move into such dangerous war games again on the Korean peninsula which is the hottest spot in the world, they will never escape from responsibility for undermining the peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

Nor will they escape from the due strong condemnations of the DPRK and international community which keep steadfast towards the peace and development.

It is the consistent policy and invariable will of the DPRK to defend the peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

The DPRK has been making every effort to realize the various practical proposals which it advanced in order to end the instable armistice system and build the permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula. The current proposals made by the National Defence Commission are a part of the sincere efforts of the DPRK to prevent another war and defend the security and peace of the entire Korean nation.

If the south Korean authorities sincerely value the peace and security on the Korean peninsula, they should take our principled proposals seriously and respond positively with practical actions.

In conclusion, I wish all of you have a good understanding of the important proposals made by the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and the current situation on the Korean peninsula. I hope you will fulfill your noble duties as journalists representing the voice of mankind opposing war and aggression and love peace and justice for the improvement of the inter-Korean relations and the peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

 

The End