Present there were media persons in Pyongyang and foreign correspondents.

Members of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration and those of the north headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification and the Pan-national Alliance of Youth and Students for Korea's Reunification were also present as observers.

Rev. Han Sang Ryol said that he visited many parts of the north as an envoy of reconciliation and peaceful reunification tasked to preserve the June 15 joint declaration.

I have visited the north at least 40 times but never has there been sufficient time to meet fellow countrymen and get deep understanding of the reality as this time, he added.

He urged the chief executive of south Korea to stop depending on foreign forces, roll back his hostile policy toward the DPRK and make a decision to return to the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.

He extended thanks to Koreans in different countries and regions for sending letters of warm encouragement and consolation.

Noting that he would pass through Panmunjom a few days later, he stated as follows:

I will go back to the south wearing the Korean overcoat of Rev. Mun Ik Hwan with a Korean Peninsula flag round my waist just as I did when coming to the north.

I will move ahead, making a bow after every step and praying for one Korea after every step and shouting "Long live the achievement of reunification and peace in the spirit of By our nation itself!".

He answered the questions raised by reporters of the Central Broadcasting Committee of Korea, Minju Joson, the Choson Sinbo Company under the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, the Xinhua News Agency of China and ITAR-TASS of Russia.