NDC Urges S. Korean Authorities to Actively Respond to DPRK's Proposal

Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- The National Defence Commission (NDC) of the DPRK in an open letter on Friday said that its proposal for the north-south military authorities' talks is the best and greatest realistic way for ensuring peace of the country and the security of the nation. The letter went on: But the south Korean authorities categorically denied the DPRK's proposal for the military authorities' talks, terming it "propaganda offensive bereft of sincerity" and "camouflaged peace tactics". They went the lengths of crying out for "strong counteraction" while talking about such unreasonable logic as "denuclearization first and dialogue next". The NDC of the DPRK solemnly urged the south Korean authorities as follows to put under control the prevailing catastrophic situation created in the north-south relations through dialogue and negotiations: The south Korean authorities should immediately respond to the DPRK's proposal for jointly paving the way for ending all the hostile acts, stumbling blocks fostering mistrust and confrontation and hindering the improvement of relations between the north and the south, and for building military confidence. The south Korean authorities should positively respond to the DPRK's proposal for opening bilateral military dialogue at the earliest date for settling all the problems arising in easing military tension on the Korean peninsula and improving the north-south relations. The south Korean authorities should meet the great expectation of all Koreans by actively supporting the bold and practical measures that would help ensure peace of the country and the security of the nation. The south Korean authorities should behave with discretion as members of the Korean nation, not misjudging the warm sincerity and great magnanimity of the DPRK. All the Koreans will soon be able to see bold and practical measures to be taken by the DPRK to defuse confrontation and the danger of conflict on the Korean peninsula and achieve the sacred cause of national reunification, the most cherished desire of the Korean nation. -0-