President Park Geun-hye proposed to Pyongyang that the two Koreas hold a joint ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of reclaiming the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonizers.
 
In a New Year press conference on Monday, Park said she hopes the two Koreas will hold various joint events together this year to celebrate the anniversary of the liberation from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule.
 
The president urged the North to come to the dialogue table with South Korea, saying there are many other urgent issues the two Koreas need to work on together.
 
Park suggested the South and the North come up with a fundamental solution to the issue of the separation of families as a result of the 1950-53 Korean War. She said she expects a fresh round of family reunions will be held on or around the Lunar New Year holiday which falls on February 19 this year. 
 
She also mentioned enhancing quality of life for North Korean residents and restoring the national identity as some other priority issues for the two Koreas to discuss together.
 
During the press conference, Park also said that she will try to enhance relations with neighboring countries, as a way of helping address the North Korean nuclear issue and improve inter-Korean relations.
 
She said she will try to improve relations with Japan on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. Park said she will also seek a strong relationship with the United States, China and Russia.