The statement continued:

The July 4 joint statement in which the three principles of national reunification--independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity--were clarified and the June 15 joint declaration based on the idea of "By our nation itself" and the October 4 declaration, a programme for implementing it, were adopted and published through dialogue and negotiations between the north and the south.

We hold that the north and the south of Korea should keep alive this valuable experience and thus weather the present difficulties and usher in a new phase of independent reunification through wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations.

We will as always fully support the just proposals for peace on the Korean Peninsula and its reunification and make every possible effort to put into practice the proposal of the DPRK's government, political parties and organizations.

The Sweden-Korea Friendship Association in a statement on Jan. 10 fully supported the joint statement of the DPRK's government, political parties and organizations, sincerely hoping that the north and the south of Korea would jointly seek a way of dialogue, detente and peace, stressed the statement.