The slogan "Let the whole nation join efforts to open up a broad avenue to independent reunification in this year of the 70th anniversary of national liberation!" advanced by Kim Jong Un in his New Year address serves as the banner of struggle which clearly indicates the bright prospect and way of independent reunification to all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas, the statement said.

We should glorify this year as a year of great turn in opening up a broad avenue to independent reunification, it noted, and went on:

First of all, it is necessary to remove the danger of war, ease the tension and create a peaceful environment on the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. and south Korean authorities should discontinue at once large-scale war exercises which escalate tension on the peninsula and bring the danger of a nuclear war to hang over the heads of the Koreans.

The south Korean authorities should neither seek "unification of social systems" that incites distrust and conflict between the north and the south nor insult the other side's social system and solicit others to do harm to their fellow countrymen.

Nothing will be impossible if our nation shares one purpose and joins efforts. On the road for reunification the north and the south have got such charter and great programme for reunification as the July 4 joint statement, the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration which demonstrated to the whole world the nation's determination and mettle to reunify the country.

All the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should conduct a more dynamic movement for national reunification in this significant year of the 70th anniversary of national liberation and the 15th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration and make a positive contribution to bringing about the second June 15 era of reunification.