The DPRK government in the statement set it as an important issue for opening up a fresh turning phase of national reunification for the north and the south to put an end to the state of reckless hostility and confrontation and pave the way for reconciliation and unity.

Defusing the confrontation between the north and the south is an urgent realistic issue in improving the north-south relations and accelerating the movement for national reunification.

There is no reason whatsoever for the north and the south to keep the state of confrontation at present.

At present the nations and countries that have differing ideologies and social systems cooperate with each other and co-exist in the world. Therefore, the differing ideologies and social systems in the north and the south do not provide any ground for the compatriots to be hostile to each other and stand in confrontation.

The pursuance of the north-south confrontation is a sycophantic act and an act of treachery as it is little short of dancing to the tune of outsiders who are keen on keeping the Korean nation divided and sowing seeds of discord between them to fish in troubled waters.

An atmosphere favorable for national reconciliation and unity can never be created as long as the north and the south stand in confrontation.

The south Korean authorities should discard the anachronistic concept of indiscriminately antagonizing the fellow countrymen because of differing ideology and social system but take a bold decision to make a switchover in its policy of confrontation with fellow countrymen to that of alliance and reconciliation with the north.

All forms of north-targeted war exercises which the south stages in collusion with outsiders are a basic factor of escalating the north-south confrontation as it is a direct product of its hostile policy toward the fellow countrymen in the north. The war exercises under various codenames which the south Korean authorities stage every year together with the U.S. have escalated the political and military confrontation between compatriots and seriously harassed the peace on the Korean peninsula.

National reconciliation and peace can hardly be achieved as long as military exercises, an open threat to the dialogue partner, persist.

It is necessary to respect and implement the north-south agreements in order to put an end to the confrontation between the north and the south and achieve the national reconciliation and unity.

The June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration serve as firm guidelines for putting an end to the state of confrontation between the north and the south, improving the relations between them and achieving the independent reunification.

Therefore, the denial of the agreements common to the north and the south is a major factor of pushing the north-south ties to a catastrophe and confrontation. As conservative "governments" appeared in south Korea one after another, the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration were totally denied and all the achievements made in the June 15 era were brought to naught and the north-south relations were pushed to the lowest ebb.

Prevailing on the peninsula at present due to the south Korean authorities' extremely reckless hostile policy and confrontational moves is such a grave situation that even a slight provocative word and action and a friction may lead to a dangerous conflict and national ruin.

Now is the crucial time for the north and the south to pave the way for improving the relations with a fresh viewpoint and stand for national reconciliation and unity.

All Koreans should turn out as one in the patriotic struggle to put an end to the state of confrontation between the north and the south, with the single and sincere desire to achieve the reconciliation and unity of the nation and the peace and reunification of the country.