Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The National Reconciliation Council on Friday released the following open questionnaire to confirm the attitude and stand of the south Korean authorities to the patriotic appeal of the DPRK before the whole nation and the international community:

Do the south Korean authorities have willingness to accept the substantial proposal of the DPRK to defuse the acute military conflict and the danger of war between the north and the south.

It is the starting point going toward peace and reunification to defuse the military conflict and the danger of a war between the north and the south and it is the urgent requirement of the whole nation to do so.

However, the south Korean authorities are describing the DPRK's proposal as "camouflaged peace offensive" and "deceptive offensive for dialogue devoid of sincerity" without examining its full meaning.

Our question is that the south Korean authorities are going to hold the largest Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises together with the U.S. in March after staging all kinds of the DPRK-targeted war drills, including midwinter tactical drill and missile warning drill in collusion with outsiders from the outset of the year, for genuine peace.

The south Korean authorities have to give a clear answer to this serious question as to whether they stand for improvement or stalemate of the north-south relations or they stand for escalation or de-escalation of tension.

Are the south Korean authorities going to while away time by faulting the proposal of the DPRK for realizing the great national unity for reunification.

The DPRK proposed a pan-national reunification gathering, thinking that if all the political parties, organizations and compatriots of all strata gather together and exchange candid view as the authorities of the north and the south did as what happened during the historic April north-south joint conference and the June 15 era, a solution can be found in improving the north-south relations and in settling the reunification issue.

However, the south Korean authorities are blaming our proposal as "reunification front strategy" and "strategy for leading to contradiction among south Koreans."

If the south Korean authorities keep denying the pan-national conference for reunification while talking about "contradiction among south Koreans", it will be tantamount to admitting themselves as a stumbling block in the way of reunification and foam forsaken by the people.

The south Korean conservative authorities have to clarify their stand.

Do not the south Korean authorities know the truth that it is an act of treachery going against the reunification to escalate the confrontation with the fellow countrymen.

It is entirely due to the vicious challenge and obstruction of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad that the national reunification aspired by the whole nation has not yet come true.

The south Korean anti-reunification and traitorous forces are still pursuing the policy for confrontation with the DPRK, far from drawing a lesson from the tragic end of the Park Geun Hye group which has already been sternly punished by the public for not discerning the principal enemy but resorting to confrontation with the fellow countrymen.

Is it time for the south Korean authorities to realize that it is pipe dream to try to check the dynamic advance of Juche Korea with "sanctions" and "pressure".

Will the south Korean authorities respond to the patriotic appeal of the DPRK or keep going against the nation's desire for reunification.

Enshrined in the appeal of the DPRK to open up a new phase of independent reunification by the concerted efforts of the nation is the ardent desire of the whole nation for reunification and the genuine willingness to subordinate everything to realizing it.

Should the south Korean authorities keep resorting to anti-DPRK smear campaign and policy for confrontation with the fellow countrymen in disregard of our magnanimity and good faith, that will be a thrice-cursed treason going against the nation's desire for reunification.

The south Korean authorities have to make a wise option at the crossroads of whether they stand for national independence or sycophantic treachery, national reconciliation or confrontation, peace or war. -0-