Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in an editorial.

The adoption of the declaration helped lay a practical foundation for developing the inter-Korean relations and achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and prosperity common to the nation and provided the Korean nation with a militant banner to be held aloft for attaining the independent and peaceful reunification of the country, the editorial notes, and goes on:

The reality of the movement for national reunification in the past three years goes to prove that the inter-Korean relations can improve and the country can be reunified and the nation can have a rosy future only when the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration are respected and implemented and that it is possible to accelerate the advance of the era of independent reunification only through a united struggle of all Koreans.

The adoption of the October 4 declaration and the past three years imbued the Koreans with the conviction that the hope-filled day of national reunification will come before long thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il's idea of independent reunification and his firm will to fling open the gate to reunification by the concerted efforts of the Koreans.

How to approach the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration serves as a touchstone distinguishing inter-Korean harmony from confrontation and peace from war.

It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to improve the inter-Korean relations and achieve independent reunification, peace and prosperity on the basis of the declarations.

The DPRK will make positive efforts to develop the inter-Korean relations according to the declarations and resolutely counter any act going against the joint declarations in the future, too.

The inter-Korean relations can never improve as long as the south Korean authorities persistently pursue the policy of confrontation, while denying the declarations.

The south Korean authorities should roll back the anti-reunification "policy toward the north" and opt to respect the declarations and mend the relations.

All Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should carve out their independent destiny with the courage and pluck of the Korean nation, deeply aware of their mission before the times and history.