China supports improved ties between DPRK, ROK

China supports improved relations through dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Thursday.

Spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on ROK President Park Geun-hye's speech in Dresden, Germany on March 28.

In the speech, Park unveiled a package of proposals for the DPRK and the ROK to work toward unification, with the ROK increasing humanitarian aid to the DPRK before expanding economic cooperation.

Park called for regularizing the reunions of families separated since the Korean War. Humanitarian projects would also include health care for pregnant women and infants during their first 1,000 days.

She also proposed more exchanges in areas such as history, culture and sports to renew a sense of homogeneity between the people of the two Koreas, and joint projects in infrastructure and exploration of natural resources.

Hong Lei said China has always supported improvements to relations between the DPRK and the ROK through dialogue, and hopes the two sides push forward with reconciliation and cooperation, with the ultimate objective of peaceful reunification.

China will work to ease tensions, push for progress in the six-party talks, and seek the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular for regional peace and stability, said the spokesman.