Kim Dae-jung, former South Korean president and 2000 Nobel Peace Laureate, reiterated his call for an early democratization of Myanmar Monday, expressing his concern for the worsening situation in the Southeast Asian nation.

In a special statement titled, the ‘’Dire Situation in Myanmar Must Be Improved,'’ he urged Myanmar’s government to guarantee the free political activities of political dissidents, including Aung San Suu Kyi whose house arrest was lengthened late last year.

He also called on the military leaders in Yangon to allow the free entry and activities of U.N. representatives and other international NGOs and make appropriate measures so that humanitarian assistance from abroad could safely reach their suffering people.

‘’Since 1988, the dark shadow of military dictatorship has grown thicker and thicker in Myanmar,'’ the retired statesman said in the statement. Despite the international concerns, however, the situation has ‘’not in the least improved, he added.

Kim stressed that the international community should make Myanmar’s government take appropriate measures to render hope and relief for all the people upholding human rights and democracy in the world as well as those in the country.

‘’I, along with the Korean people, pledge to do my utmost so that Madame Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic fighters are freed and the situation in Myanmar improves, to bring a new age of hope and development in the future of Myanmar,'’ he said.

Kim’s aides said that the former president has sent the statement with his separate letters enclosed to Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in Myanmar, and Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations.

During the five years as South Korea’s president since 1998 as well as during the time as opposition leader in the 1980s and 1990s, Kim sent letters to the leadership of Myanmar and met with them in person to call for democratization and ensure the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic advocates in Myanmar.