DPRK reminds world of Koryo concept for reunification

As the 31st anniversary of the announcement of a proposal by President Kim Il Sung for the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula approaches, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has republished his suggestions. The proposals are based around the concept of the Democratic Confederate Republic of Koryo (DCRK), “which would consist of the north and south, with the preservation of the existing ideologies and social systems of both sides.” President Kim Il Sung laid out his proposals on October 10, 1989. Koryo was a Korean dynasty established in 918, which lasted until 1392. “If the north and south each independently seek to achieve an absolute recognition of their own ideologies and systems and impose them on the other side, this would inevitably lead to confrontation and conflict, which in turn would lead to a further deepening of the split,” President Kim Il Sung said. The concept of Koryo consists of a confederated republic based on the mutual recognition of existence in two separate zones of ideologies and systems. The republic would be ruled by “a single national government, composed on an equal basis and to include representatives from north and south, with equal responsibilities and duties, who will each carry out a system of regional self-government.” The DCRK would be a “neutral state, not part of any military alliance or bloc.” It should also, according to the concept set forward by President Kim Il Sung, “oppose all attempts at interference by outside forces, reliance on foreign forces to exercise full sovereignty over its domestic and foreign policy, to decide all questions of public policy independently, in accordance with the fundamental interests of the Korean nation and the reality of our country.” The system of government of the DCRK would also “not give preference to any one of the two parties, neither north nor south” and would “develop the economy of north and south in the direction of a coherent, organically united and independent national economy.” The authorities of the Democratic Confederation of the Republic of Koryo would also “ensure freedom of movement between north and south by land, seas and air,” President Kim Il Sung said. The armed forces of both sides would also be reduced and the demilitarised zone diving north and south scrapped. A single joint army would be organized. The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK recently said that Seoul’s policies were “dangerous” and pushing the Korean peninsula to the “brink of war.”