The statement said that Supreme leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un in his New Year address put forward important and constructive proposals for achieving Korea's reunification.

An appeal calling upon all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas to turn out in the drive for national reunification was made public at the joint meeting, it noted.

The appeal said this year marks the 70th anniversary of separation of the nation, the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, the 15th anniversary of the historic June 15 joint declaration and the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, calling upon all Koreans to turn out in the drive for reunification with ardent patriotism for reunification, it stressed, and went on:

The south Korean authorities should give up the daydream of "unification of social systems".

This ambition runs counter to the north-south agreements in the past and it is bound to face failure in the end.

We fully support the appeal of the joint meeting.

It is our firm stand that the U.S. troops have to withdraw from south Korea if Korea is to be reunified on the principle of independence.