Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article.

The application of the federal formula provides the only way of achieving the reunification of the country peacefully and most quickly by putting an end to the division of the country and attaining the reconciliation and unity between the north and the south as a homogenous nation, the article notes, and goes on:

The proposal for reunifying the country by federal formula fully embodies the three principles of national reunification-- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity--, the programme for reunification common to the nation.

The proposal meets the interests of all classes, strata and groupings in the north and the south.

It calls on the federal state to perform its main function to respect and protect the interests of all the Koreans and adhere to the principle of impartiality in its operation.

If the country is reunified by the federal formula, the Korean nation will establish sovereignty throughout Korea and achieve the great unity as a homogenous nation and emerge an independent, peace-loving and neutral united state of the nation.

The north and the south in the historic June 15 joint declaration recognized that the north side-proposed low-level federation and the south side-proposed confederation have something in common and solemnly pledged before the whole world to work for reunification in this direction in the future.

There is no doubt that the independent and peaceful reunification of the country, the desire of all Koreans, is sure to be achieved when the north and the south sincerely implement the June 15 joint declaration.