The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Friday called on all Koreans to resolutely thwart the attempts of the "warlike forces" to ignite war, the official news agency KCNA reported.

In an appeal to all the Korean people, the DPRK's Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea said dialogue and negotiations "are the only way for averting a war, defusing confrontation and improving inter-Korean relations."

As the environment for dialogue and negotiations has already been created, there is no reason for South Korea to refuse to respond to the DPRK's proposal for wide-ranging dialogue, the appeal said.

The appeal said South Korean authorities should discard useless misgivings and prejudices, and accept the DPRK's proposal without delay and preconditions.

Politicians in both the DPRK and South Korea should actively hold bilateral and multilateral negotiations, the appeal said.

Lawmakers of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the National Assembly of South Korea should keep contact and hold negotiations with a view to "settling the grave situation prevailing between the North and the South," it said.

It urged South Korea to stop blocking free visits, contact and cooperation between personages of various circles of the North and the South including politicians, businessmen, religionists and media persons.

It called on all the Koreans in the DPRK, South Korea and aboard to "resolutely frustrate the moves of the warlike forces" to ignite a war, which is a threat to the security and peace of the Korean nation.

The appeal said the United States should not instigate South Korea to escalate confrontation, but should refrain from acts of deepening the mistrust between the North and the South and increasing the danger of war on the Korean Peninsula.

It also called on all the countries concerned and the world's peace-loving to "pay deep attention" to the situation on the Korean Peninsula and extend "unreserved support" to the DPRK's efforts to resolve the issue.

The government, political parties and social organizations of the DPRK issued a joint statement on Jan. 5 proposing unconditional dialogue with South Korea to openly discuss ways of eliminating misunderstanding and distrust as well as achieving peace and prosperity.

In a statement on Wednesday, a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman said it is the common aspirations of the international community to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through dialogues and negotiations.

"It is important not to miss the hard-won opportunity but keep alive the atmosphere of dialogue in order to avoid a vicious cycle of growing tension," the spokesman said.