Pyongyang media emphasizes inter-Korean peace and prosperity

By Jung Da-min

North Korea's propaganda media Monday emphasized that 2018 has been a new era of peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula.

"This year has been a tumultuous year for the North-South relationship, that had suffered from aggravation of hostilities and confrontation for a long time, has experienced a dramatic change in accordance with the intention and demands of the whole people, the state-run Arirang-meari said in an editorial Monday. “It presented a new era of peace and prosperity in the whole land of Korea."

The editorial came a day after North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, in his first letter to Moon in 10 months, expressed his willingness to meet him often in 2019 to discuss peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korean media assessed the three inter-Korean summits on April 27 on the South Korean side of Panmunjeom, the truce village; on May 26 on the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area; and from Sept. 18-20 in Pyongyang as a very special event in Korean history.

It also highlighted the opening of inter-Korean liaison offices, the 11th anniversary of the Oct. 4 inter-Korean Declaration, the new inter-Korean military agreement and inter-Korean exchanges in sports and arts.

Although Kim Jong-un did not make his promised visit to Seoul in December, he expressed his willingness to pay a visit to the capital, without specifying the date.

Kim will give his New Year's speech on Tuesday.