DPRK urges South Korea to work for environment to realize national reunification

PYONGYANG, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday continued its public relations offensive on South Korea, calling on Seoul to work with the north in creating conditions for future national reunification.

The official daily Rodong Sinmun said in an article that to realize national reconciliation and unity is key for creating an environment for national reunification in the future.

"To the Korean nation that has undergone the tragedy of division for many years, it is a vital demand which can no longer be delayed to end the history of confrontation," said the official daily of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

"The north and south should be aware of their responsibility and duty before the times and history," it said, adding that the "future orientation of the inter-Korean relations depends on South Korean authorities' efforts."

The daily called on Seoul to "lend an ear to the voices of the people," "remove all walls of confrontation," and "sincerely come out to the road" to better relations with the north.

The DPRK has not yet announced its proposal to hold the second round of inter-Korean talks within one week at the truce village of Panmunjom next Monday, which is scheduled to discuss the DPRK's dispatch of its art troupe to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics hosted by South Korea.

The DPRK and South Korea held their first high-level meeting earlier this week at Panmunjom in more than two years, reaching a number of agreements ranging from cooperation in the Winter Olympics to taking measures to ease tensions on the peninsula.

Rodong Sinmun said in an article Saturday that the talks showed the inter-Korean problems are completely solvable if the two sides really want to do so. Enditem