Out of his noble mission before history and the nation, Supreme Leader of the Korean people Kim Jong Un has provided wise guidance to the struggle for improving the north-south ties and opening up a decisive turn in the independent reunification of the country from the outset of the year.

With his plan to thaw the frozen north-south ties and glorify this year as an eventful year to be specially recorded in the nation's history, he advanced the policy on bringing about a turn in the north-south ties in his historic New Year Address.

He clarified the issue of defusing the acute military tension and providing a peaceful environment on the Korean peninsula, the issue of actively creating an atmosphere helpful toward national reconciliation and reunification, the issue of fulfilling one's responsibility and role before the times and the nation more than ever under the uplifted banner of national independence and other tasks and ways for improving the north-south ties and realizing the cause for independent reunification.

He ushered in the new era of national reconciliation and unity and peace and prosperity at the third north-south summit and through the adoption of the Panmunjom Declaration.

On April 27 the north and the south of Korea declared the permanent farewell to the nightmare-like long frozen winter and made the start of warm spring known to the world at Panmunjom that has remained as a symbol of national division and confrontation and a pronoun of wrath and tears for more than 70 years.

The historic Panmunjom summit meeting and talks were held and the April 27 declaration was adopted, providing a valuable cornerstone for removing distrust and confrontation between the north and the south, actively promoting the development of relations and bringing about a new heyday for peace and reunification of the Korean peninsula.

Kim Jong Un provided the fourth north-south summit meeting and talks again in 29 days since the third north-south summit meeting and talks in the historic land of Panmunjom, thus giving further momentum to the development of the north-south ties and the trend for peace and prosperity of the Korean peninsula.

He made sure that a consensus was reached on practical measures, out of his fixed will to usher in the new era in which all the fellow countrymen lead a prosperous and happy life in a peaceful land free from war.

At present, thanks to the proactive measures taken by the DPRK, north-south liaison channels that had been shut down for a long time have been reopened and important agreements have been reached at a series of working talks held in the wake of high-level talks.

These valuable results instill joy and hope into the fellow countryman and arouse support and sympathy of the international community desirous of peace on the Korean peninsula and stability in the region.

All the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should dynamically advance toward the bright future of the improvement of the north-south ties and independent reunification and peace and prosperity under the uplifted banner of By Our Nation Itself.