The DPRK side clarified the principled stand of its army and people to open the north-south high-level military talks for the purpose of probing the truth behind the case.

The Lee Myung Bak group of traitors, however, has persistently turned down the DPRK's realistic proposal, far-fetchedly asserting that the case is an issue to be dealt with under the Korean Armistice Agreement.

Meanwhile, the U.S. forces side repeatedly requested the DPRK side to hold the DPRK-U.S. military general-level talks, underlining the need to make "joint efforts to prevent the recurrence of the tragic incident".

In this connection the head of the DPRK side to the DPRK-U.S. military general-level talks sent the following reply notice to the U.S. forces side on July 9:

The DPRK side will not be bound to modalities and methods of talks if they are helpful to probing the "Cheonan" case in an objective and scientific way.

The DPRK still regards the opening of the north-south high-level military talks as the best way for settling the issue.

It decided to take note of the U.S. forces side's proposal to discuss the "Cheonan" case at the DPRK-U.S. military general-level talks now that the south Korean authorities are turning down the proposal made by the DPRK with magnanimity.

The DPRK side, first, advances a modified proposal on holding a senior colonel (colonel)-level working contact at Panmunjom at ten on July 13, to discuss the issues concerning the opening of the DPRK-U.S. military general-level talks.

This proposal is a manifestation of the unshakable will of the army and people of the DPRK to probe the truth behind the "Cheonan" case in an objective, scientific and fair way.

If the U.S. forces side truly stands for a solution to the warship case and peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, it should seriously respond to this proposal carrying the good faith and magnanimity of the army of the DPRK.