rea, the South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration and other reunification movement organizations, religious and civic and public organizations, socio-cultural and economic cooperative organizations, Ri Hui Ho, Rim Tong Won, Pak Ji Won, Jong Se Hyon, Jong Tong Yong, Ri Jong Sok, Ri Jae Jong and others related to the Pyongyang meeting, more than a hundred of famous individuals and overseas compatriotic organizations and personages.

The open letter said that the new line and policies for national reunification set forth at the Seventh Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea reflected the firm faith and will to put an end to the 70 odd-year-long history of separation and open up a new era of reunification and prosperity for glorifying the dignity and honor of the Korean nation over the world.

The letter noted that it is the steadfast will of the north that whoever is keenly aware of the value of destiny and future of the nation should accept the north's sincere and innovative initiative and proposals to put an end to the extreme confrontation between compatriots, achieve peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and independently open up a way for national reunification by the concerted efforts of the nation.

It is the invariable stand of the DPRK that anyone who cherishes national conscience even a bit, even if he or she used to oppose reunification, can turn over a new leaf as a companion on the road of reunification, the letter said.

It noted that the DPRK's opinion is to hold in Pyongyang or Kaesong a great national conference for reunification to be participated in by the authorities of the north and the south and representatives of the political parties and organizations and figures of various strata at home and abroad before and after August 15 this year, the 71st anniversary of Korea's liberation, and call it a joint conference of the political parties, organizations and personages in the north and the south and abroad for peace and independent reunification of the Korean peninsula.

If the south side offers a constructive opinion on the matters concerned such as the period, place, participants and agenda item for discussion of the joint conference, the DPRK has full will to examine them without reserve and accept them, the letter said.

Regarding that it is an urgent task to form preparatory committees for practically pushing forward the holding of a joint conference in every region and form a joint national preparatory committee on the basis of it, the DPRK hoped that the work for implementing them would be soon started in the south side and abroad and made a proposal for holding a working-level contact related with the formation of the joint national preparatory committee comprising delegates from the north and the south and abroad within July at a place to be agreed upon, the letter noted.

The letter expressed belief and expectation that the south Korean authorities, and political parties, organizations and reputed figures at home and abroad would positively respond to the DPRK's sincere proposals and measures, being well aware of their duty before the era and nation in the present crucial phase.