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DPRK proposes to South Korea to mark 13th anniversary of Joint Declaration of June 15, 2000

According to a representative of the South Korean Committee for the implementation of the Joint Declaration, the proposal was sent to the office of the Committee by fax

TOKYO, May 23 (Itar-Tass) - North Korea has proposed to South Korea to hold events to mark the 13th anniversary of the inter-Korean Joint Declaration of 15 June 2000, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday.

According to a representative of the South Korean Committee for the implementation of the Joint Declaration, the proposal was sent to the office of the Committee by fax. The message of the North Korean side says that “the implementation of the provisions of the Joint Declaration is the only way to restore the relationship between the North and the South and open the way to unification.” Among the possible venues proposed for the memorable events are Mount Kumgang and the border town of Kaesong.

The Koreas had annually held joint events marking the agreement before suspending them in 2009 under the hard-line stance of former President Lee Myung-bak. The North has consistently demanded that the South abide by the reconciliatory agreement while restrained inter-Korean relations led to the suspension of their trade and other exchange.

The South Korean Unification Ministry noted that they will consider Pyongyang’s proposal, but will make the final decision, taking into account the current situation in their relations with the DPRK.

The Joint Declaration between the DPRK and South Korea was adopted on the results of the first inter-Korean summit with the participation of late President of South Korea Kim Dae-jung and late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il that was held in Pyongyang in summer 2000. This historic meeting was the result of the “Sunshine” policy pursued by the late South Korean president towards the DPRK. Some South Korean observers believe that the proposal of the North to celebrate together the anniversary of the Declaration may indicate Pyongyang’s willingness to resume the interrupted dialogue with Seoul.

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