South Korea’s umbrella labor unions announced Monday that they are working to hold a football friendly between workers of the two Koreas in May, hoping the event would help promote inter-Korean peace and unity.

The South’s Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions said during a news conference in Seoul that they formed a task force to push for the friendly.

Two months ago, the unions proposed their North Korean counterpart, the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, to hold the event on May Day next year, to which the North answered positively, they said.

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of Korean liberation from 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule and division of the Korean Peninsula, and the 15th year of the June 15 joint declaration signed during the first inter-Korean summit between then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the South Korean unions added.

Workers of the two Koreas previously had two friendly matches in 1999 and 2007.

“The inter-Korean workers’ football matches for reunification held in 1999 and 2007 helped enhance the public awareness of peace and inter-Korean reunification and exchanges of workers,” the unions said in a statement read during the press conference.

“The new event will become a chance to improve inter-Korean relations, stimulate exchanges and cooperation in all walks of life (in the two Koreas), and raise the mood of reconciliation, unity and peace among Koreans.” (Yonhap)