North Korea has issued an appeal to "all Koreans at home and abroad," urging them to "turn out as one" to make a "breakthrough" for "independent reunification" and urging the South to halt joint military exercises with the U.S. "forever," state-run media said Thursday.
The announcement, which came after a joint meeting of the government and political parties, said all Koreans should "promote contact, travel, cooperation and exchange between the north and the south on a wide scale" to create a climate for "reconciliation and reunification."
The appeal, which was aimed at supporting remarks on reunification in leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's address, said this year was particularly meaningful for both Koreas as it is the 70th anniversary of the North's founding and will see the South host the Pyeongchang Olympics from Feb. 9 to 25.