The North-South Summit and the publication of the June 15 joint declaration in 2000 marked a historic event of great significance in accomplishing the cause of national reunification.

Under the banner of the joint declaration, a new era of independent reunification has been opened and unprecedented successes achieved in the development of inter-Korean relations and the national reunification movement.

Though the inter-Korean relations had been aggravated last year, an atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation between the north and the south has been created by active and bold measures and sincere efforts made by the DPRK in order to make a turning-point in national reunification.

The previous ten years since the publication of the June 15 joint declaration followed by the publication of the October 4 declaration for its implementation, during which the Korean nation has advanced along the road for independent reunification, peace and prosperity, has clearly confirmed that these declarations are the most reasonable reunification programmes and the ideal of "By our nation itself" is the very national spirit and the one and only ideal in the June 15 reunification era.

Unshakable is the DPRK's stand that it will improve the north-south relations and open a way for national reunification on the basis of the historic declarations.

The present situation shows that only when the south Korean authorities respect the declarations and seek dialogue and improvement of relations between the two halves of Korea and all the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and abroad strengthen solidarity and collaboration, can the national reunification movement be developed.

The Korean nation should build up the atmosphere of independent reunification, reconciliation, cooperation and unity on a nationwide scale to greet the 10th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration and the 30th anniversary of the proposal for the founding of the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo.

Holding high the slogan "Let the entire nation unite under the banner of north-south joint declarations and achieve national reunification at the earliest date!" the entire Korean nation will frustrate all challenges of the anti-reunification forces and step up the grand nationwide march toward reunification.