Thanks to the far-sighted acumen, outstanding insight and seasoned political caliber of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, the north-south relations turned into the relations of reconciliation and cooperation last year, said the statement, adding:

In the New Year Address, he put forward the slogan "Let us usher in a heyday of peace, prosperity and reunification of the Korean peninsula by thoroughly implementing the historic north-south declarations!"

Last year, the top leaders of the north and the south met and held talks three times; adopted and made public the historic Panmunjom Declaration and September Pyongyang Joint Declaration. As a result, a new history of national reunification started.

However, if not implemented, agreements and declarations will be useless however good they are.

It is necessary to make substantial achievements, getting united in the face of any obstacles in the course so as to press ahead with the agreed declaration articles.

In particular, resuming the operation of Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) and the tour of Mt Kumgang will benefit not only the businessmen of the south side, who once ran their enterprises in KIZ, but also the entire nation by widely developing the national economy based on it, which serves the two ends.

The statement called for opening up a new era of reconciliation, unity, reunification and prosperity in the Korean peninsula by the united efforts of all the fellow countrymen.