The statement said:

Korea remains the only divided country in the world.

The situation of the Korean Peninsula is still tense.

Korea's division into the north and the south was due to the interference of foreign forces.

Last year Koreans fully showed their desire for national reunification by significantly marking the 10th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration and the 30th anniversary of the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo in the north and the south and abroad.

Their will to reunify the country independently is growing stronger with passage of time despite trials and ordeals.

Cooperation between the north and the south of Korea for peaceful reunification will be helpful to ensuring peace in Northeast Asia and denuclearizing the peninsula.

The DPRK has already and officially proposed to have dialogue without any precondition.

The authorities of south Korea should positively respond to this proposal.