North Korea calls on all Koreans to push for reunification

In a message to "all Koreans at home and abroad," North Korea called for unification without the assistance of other countries, North Korean state media said.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the North Korean government and political parties, held in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's address calling for stronger reunification efforts. Pyongyang will "smash" all challenges against reunification, the statement said, and called joint military drills with "outside forces," like the kind conducted by South Korea and the United States, harmful and a "fundamental obstacle" to peace.

North Korea views 2018 as an important year, as it's the 70th anniversary of the founding of the country and the Winter Olympics are being held in South Korea.

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