North Korea has proposed holding an inter-Korean meeting that brings together both government officials and ordinary citizens to help resolve heightened tensions between the two Koreas.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) said Friday that the North’s government, ruling party and ruling groups held a meeting at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on Thursday and adopted a statement proposing the so-called Unification Grand Gathering for all Koreans.

In the statement, the North said anyone from the two Koreas who hopes for peace and unification of the Korean Peninsula including government representatives, members of parties, groups and prominent figures should be able to participate in the meeting.

Assessing that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula is at its worst, the statement said the meeting will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss ways to ease tensions, restart inter-Korean relations and realize reunification.

North Korea recently continued its dialogue overture toward South Korea, claiming that talks are crucial in ending military hostilities between the two sides. 

Seoul, however, regards the dialogue proposal as an effort by Pyongyang to divide the international community as it feels the pinch from toughened UN sanctions slapped on the regime for its nuclear and missile provocations.