calendar>>November 17. 2009 Juche 98
Improved Inter-Korean Relations Demanded
Pyongyang, November 17 (KCNA) -- It is a prerequisite for national reunification and an urgent task for solving the national problem to achieve reconciliation, unity and cooperation between the north and the south and develop their relationship, Rodong Sinmun stresses in a signed article Tuesday.

It is because this comes up as the pressing task which brooks no further delay in view of the requirements of the June 15 era of reunification and the common interests of the nation or in light of the demands of the prevailing situation, the article says, and goes on:

We took such various measures for inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation as having solved the important problems for the resumption of tourism of Mt. Kumgang and Kaesong, revitalization of the work in the Kaesong Industrial Zone and reunion of separated families and relatives at Mt. Kumgang resort with the autumn festival as an occasion. Those magnanimous measures came from the patriotic desire to improve the deteriorated inter-Korean relations by any means and develop the movement for national reunification.

All the fellow countrymen have fully supported these just measures taken by the DPRK to dispel pent-up misunderstanding and distrust and improve the relations between the north and the south while urging the south Korean authorities to respond to them without any condition.

However, prevailing in south Korea is the serious situation quite contrary to the desire and demand of the fellow countrymen.

It is impossible to normalize the north-south relations under such condition that one side incites confrontation against its dialogue partner, distrusting it and even perpetrates military provocations. There will be nothing but war between the north and the south when they are hostile to each other and the military tension gets aggravated.

Whether the inter-Korean relations will get improved or aggravated depends entirely on the attitude of the south Korean authorities. It is utterly absurd to insist on the confrontation with poor discrimination and obsessed with outdated conception while failing to squarely see the desire of the fellow countrymen for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, which will lead to a wide avenue for the independent reunification, peace and prosperity, and the trend of the times towards dialogue and detente. Such rash deed will certainly bring bitter regret and catastrophe only to the confrontation elements.

We will strive for the improvement of the inter-Korean relations in the future, too.

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