The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Saturday that North Korea is willing to discuss declaring a formal end to the Korean War and consider an inter-Korean summit if mutual respect can be assured.

Kim Yo-jong made the remarks in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim said that the North is open to constructive discussions for successful solutions to issues including the timely declaration of the termination of the war, the reestablishment of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, and an inter-Korean summit. She, however, noted that it is her "personal opinion."

Kim explained that she feels that the atmosphere of the South Korean public desiring to recover the inter-Korean relations from a deadlock and achieving peaceful stability as soon as possible is irresistibly strong. She said that the North has the same desire.

However, she stressed that a smooth understanding between the two Koreas will be possible only when impartiality and the attitude of respect on both sides is maintained.

The statement came a day after she welcomed President Moon Jae-in's proposal to declare a formal end to the Korean War, calling the idea "interesting."