Pyongyang on Tuesday published a government statement with the stated aim of improving relations with Seoul, saying they are ready to discuss any of South Korea's suggestions "with an open mind.”

Though it spoke of peace and reconciliation, the statement issued through the state-run newspaper also claimed that their nuclear weapons program has “changed the (DPRK)’s status and role permanently” and said both the future of the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations are in the hands of North Koreans.