And a proposal was made on resuming the suspended reunion of separated families and relatives with the lunar New Year's Day as an occasion, a token of the DPRK's willingness for the improvement of the inter-Korean relations.

The proposals and letter mirror the strong sense of responsibility and patriotic-minded resolve of the DPRK supreme leadership to put an end to the tragic history of national division that can no longer be overlooked and open up a new phase of national reunification.

They are also indicative of the steadfast will of the DPRK army and people to make a breakthrough in improving the north-south ties by concerted efforts of the entire nation, without asking about the inglorious past.

Now is the time to finally terminate the history of national division and confrontation, which has caused disasters and sufferings to the fellow countrymen generation after generation.

The generation, born in the year of the national division, has become grey-headed.

Growing distrust and confrontation have compelled the Korean nation to suffer immense losses.

The division of the Korean nation was forced by foreign forces, but it is the Koreans themselves who are responsible for its destiny.

Therefore, no one can evade from the responsibility for leaving divided Korea to coming generations.

Difference in ideology and social system can never be a cause of distrust and confrontation.

The Korean people are obliged to preserve the time-honored history, culture, soul and territory of the homogenous nation bequeathed by the ancestors and creditably hand them down to coming generations.

To pool efforts is prerequisite to settling the reunification issue.

The Korean nation boasts of an admirable tradition of having defended the country and the soul of the nation by turning a misfortune into a blessing and adversity into prosperity.

It is a clear manifestation of the spirit of national independence that all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad are taking one and the same standpoint in the efforts for liquidation of the past crimes committed by Japan during its colonial rule over Korea, irrespective of whereabouts, ideology, political view and social system.

Let all of political parties, organizations and people in the north and the south turn out as one in the nationwide struggle for achieving the peace and reunification of the country, mindful of their responsibilities to the history and the posterity.