It is necessary to firmly maintain the stand of national independence, the stand of attaching importance to the nation in order to foil the domestic and foreign forces' moves for war against reunification and reunify the country at an early date.

Independence is what keeps the nation alive. It provides a sure guarantee for the existence and development of the nation. A nation can achieve its independence only when it values its dignity and interests from the stand of giving top priority to the nation and putting them above all.

Any nation can carve out its destiny in line with its requirements and interests if it holds fast to the stand of independence, the stand of giving overriding importance to the nation.

Korea's reunification is a cause of national independence which all the Koreans should achieve with responsibility.

Outside forces do not present reunification to the Korean nation. They make no scruple of sacrificing other countries and nations to meet their own interests. They steadily escalate north-south confrontation in a bid to fish in troubled waters.

The spirit of national independence and attaching importance to the nation is a basic stand and motto for the Korean nation which was forced into two by outsiders and is on the verge of a war. Neither foreign forces nor any idea should be put above the interests of the nation.

If one values outsiders more than compatriots and puts "cooperation" with them above the common cause of the nation, it is impossible to improve the north-south relations nor is it possible to achieve genuine confidence and reconciliation between compatriots. This will only spark escalated confrontation and tensions.

The conservative forces of south Korea unhesitatingly commit acts of treachery, doing harm to the interests of the nation while working with bloodshot eyes for "cooperation" with outsiders. They set the relations with foreign forces as the top priority task of their domestic and foreign policies under the signboard of "pragmatic diplomacy".

They also set sort of "change" and dismantlement of nuclear program as precondition for the improvement of the north-south relations and are working hard to escalate confrontation with fellow countrymen. They are working as nuclear war servants while frequently staging war exercises against the DPRK.

The rhetoric about "sincerity" touted by them based on the watchwords of "no nuke, opening and 3000 dollars" is a product of a plot they bred with their master to conceal their true colors as anti-reunification and confrontational elements and stifle the system in the DPRK.

History and reality eloquently prove that whether one stands for national independence or not is an important matter related to the improvement of the north-south relations and the reunification of the country.

It is necessary to take the stand of national independence, the stand of attaching importance to the nation and pool efforts with fellow countrymen and reject foreign forces in order to mend the north-south relations and open up a decisive phase of national reunification. Dependence on outsiders and "cooperation" with them should be rejected by all means.

Attaching importance to the nation will lead to reunification and patriotism while "cooperation" with outsiders to division, treachery and war.

All the Koreans should fully display the Juche character and national identity with the pride of being a member of the homogenous nation with 5 000 year-long history. They should also resolutely smash the outsiders' interference in the internal affairs of the nation and their obstructive moves. Heavy blows should be dealt at the south Korean conservative group which is resorting to criminal acts of treachery while violating the dignity and sovereignty of the nation and stirring up a fratricidal war, subservient to outsiders.

All the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should step up the nationwide grand march for reunification from the stand of independence, peace and great national unity and thus achieve the historic cause of national reunification by the concerted efforts of the nation.