The statement said:

Marshal Kim Jong Un in his New Year Address called for establishing a favorable climate for improved relations between the north and the south.

However, the south Korean authorities have said from the outset of the year that the north should show sincerity for building confidence for improved relations between the south and the north and that the north should make sincere efforts for denuclearization. They let loose a whole string of invectives laying the blame for the strained situation at the door of the north, far from creating a favorable climate for mending the relations.

They hurled troops of the puppet army into shelling drill, maneuvers, position-occupying drill, etc., chilling the desire of all Koreans for the north-south reconciliation and unity.

All these moves once again clearly indicate who sincerely hopes for national unity and reunification and who insists on confrontation and permanent division.

The south Korean authorities should stop at once the smear campaign and confrontation which bring nothing good to the nation and make sincere efforts for national reconciliation, unity and reunification.