From the beginning of the division, the north and the south have continued a hostile relation, viewing each other with distrust and making accusations. However, recent reunification of Germany and the sweeping reform and liberalization movement in the eastern European countries have stimulated Korea to strive for national reunification.

During the past two decades, South Korea has achieved a remarkable growth to become one of the world's ten largest trading countries. Further, the success of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games has enabled South Korea to enhance its participation in the internationl community. Now is the time to get rid of the sufferings caused by the split, and to begin the peaceful reunification, by ourselves, in order to preserve the 5,000-year history and tradition of our nation.