Pyongyang, September 23 (KCNA) -- Respecting and sincerely implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration provide the only way for improving the aggravated north-south relations and independently and peacefully reunifying the country as desired by the nation, says Rodong Sinmun Friday in a by-lined article.

The declarations serve as the most just and vital great programme for reunification common to the Korean nation as they clearly indicate an orientation and ways for reunifying the country by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation, the article notes, and goes on:

The implementation of those declarations leads to unity and peace. But refusal to do so leads to confrontation, division and war.

The north-south relations had developed, guided by the idea of "By our nation itself" since the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.

Multi-faceted talks were held between authorities of the north and the south to discuss and settle issues of implementing the declarations. As a result, undertakings for economic cooperation made rapid progress. This development resulted in converting the inter-Korean relations characterized by confrontation into those of reconciliation and reunification.

The denial of the declarations and refusal to implement them are bound to bring the relations to collapse and escalate tension.

Had the south Korean authorities have respected and implemented the declarations, the north-south relations would not have been driven to such catastrophe and such touch-and-go situation would have not been created on the Korean Peninsula.

The south Korean authorities' present "policy toward north" can never help repair the north-south relations.

They would be well advised to roll back their "policy toward north" and make a policy switchover in the direction of respecting and implementing the declarations.