calendar>>January 31. 2010 Juch 99

DPRK FM Statement Supported in South Africa

Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The South African Association of Friendship and Solidarity with Korean People and the Group for the Study of the Progressive Ideas of South Africa issued a joint statement on Jan. 23 in support of the statement of the DPRK Foreign Ministry. It urged the parties to the Armistice Agreement to take a sincere attitude toward the replacement of the AA with a peace treaty and make positive efforts for an early conclusion of a peace treaty in the interests of the Korean people.

Expressing full support for the DPRK proposal for a peace treaty, the statement noted that replacing the AA with a peace treaty is prerequisite for peace in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia at present.

We consider the recent proposal of the DPRK Foreign Ministry as a vivid reflection of its sincere efforts for peace in the peninsula and the rest of the region, the statement said, stressing the need to start talks for a peace treaty and confidence between the DPRK and the U.S. as early as possible.