Pyongyang Wants Inter-Korean Summit
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
North Korea softened its criticism toward South Korea in its New Year's message and instead, expressed hope for improved inter-Korean relations.
The Ministry of Unification responded positively to the move, saying that the secretive state underlined denuclearization through dialogue and negotiations.
The ministry also said that the North appeared to place emphasis on the economy, including the improvement of people's livelihood.
``We remain consistent that a peace system on the Korean Peninsula should be established and the denuclearization should be achieved through dialogue and negotiations,'' said the message carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
The North blasted the South in last year's message, saying the South Korean authorities faced total failure with their confrontational policy.
This year, North Korea urged the South to respect inter-Korean agreements and improve bilateral relations, avoiding direct criticism of the Seoul government.
But Pyongyang noted that an end to hostile relations with the United States was necessary for regional peace and stability.
``The fundamental task of ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region is to put an end to the hostile relationship between North Korea and the United States,'' the message said.
The move is construed as a wish for better relations with Washington which dispatched special envoy Stephen Bosworth last month in order to persuade the isolated state to return to the six-party denuclearization talks.
The multilateral forum, involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia, has been stalled since the North vowed to boycott it ``forever'' last May.
An official of the South Korean government said that the North's remarks are considered positive by and large.
``They do not directly criticize the government and reaffirmed its softened stance toward us,'' he said, requesting anonymity. ``The North reiterated its willingness to improve the inter-Korea relations, which can be read as a positive signal.''
The message also called for a campaign to restore the North Korean economy.
``Commemorating the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the (ruling Workers' Party), we have to spur the light and agricultural industries and thus, make a radical turn in people's livelihood,'' it said.
Last month, the isolated state abruptly revalued its currency, knocking two zeros off the nominal value of the money, in an apparent attempt to fight inflation and black marketeering.
The communist state is seeking to revive its economy under the slogan of becoming ``a strong and prosperous nation'' by the year 2012.