Pyongyang, October 4 (KCNA) -- It is four years since the historic October 4 declaration was adopted.

The declaration provided the Korean nation with important guidelines for improving the north-south relations and accelerating the independent reunification.

The October 4 declaration is an action programme for implementing the June 15 joint declaration.

The vitality of the October 4 declaration lies in that it clearly indicates the way of definitely converting the north-south relations into those of mutual respect and confidence irrespective of differing ideologies and systems in the north and the south.

It calls on both sides to settle the inter-Korean relations in the direction of promoting reconciliation, cooperation and reunification while not interfering in the internal affairs of the other side. It also calls on them to adjust the legal and institutional mechanisms and actively promote dialogue and contacts in all fields to improve the bilateral relations in a reunification-oriented way.

The declaration paved a wide avenue for ensuring peace and building lasting peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula.

Clarified in the declaration are the issue of defusing military tension while not antagonizing each other, the issue of rejecting war and sincerely honoring the commitment to non-aggression on the Korean Peninsula as well as the issue of cooperating with each other to put an end to the present armistice system and build lasting peace mechanism.

Another vitality of the declaration lies in that it indicates ways for the north and the south to revitalize cooperation and exchanges in all fields including the economy.

The declaration also elaborates on the tasks for achieving balanced development of the national economy and common prosperity and improving exchanges and cooperation in the fields of social culture.

The October 4 declaration is an action programme that specifies all the issues arising in defending and carrying into practice the June 15 joint declaration. It, therefore, serves as a programme for national reunification that the 70 million Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should hold fast to till the country is reunified.

After the publication of the declaration the north-south ministerial talks developed into the north-south premier-level talks while the committee for promoting north-south economic cooperation into the vice premier-level joint committee for north-south economic cooperation. Brisk cooperation was made for national reconciliation, unity and reunification in all fields including politics, economy, military affairs and culture.

Had this trend been continued free from the hindrance by the anti-reunification forces, the north-south relations would have made epochal progress and peace been consolidated on the Korean Peninsula and national reunification been accelerated.

However, a serious stumbling block is lying in the way of realizing the nation's cherished desire for national reunification and improving the north-south relations.

The anti-reunification forces of south Korea totally denied the historic declarations supported and favored by all Koreans and asserted "it is impossible to mend the south-north relations by national chauvinism" while seriously defaming the idea of "By our nation itself" as "narrow-minded nationalism."

It was none other than the puppet conservative group which suspended multi-faceted dialogues overnight and dropped a check-bar on the dialogue under absurd preconditions.

Shortly ago, the puppet Ministry of Unification disallowed the South Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration to visit the DPRK though it wanted to make working contact concerning the north-south joint event for marking the 4th anniversary of the October 4 declaration.

This is indicative of its stand and attitude toward the declaration common to the nation.

The October 4 declaration cherished by the Koreans and whose vitality and validity have been clearly proven will never lose its significance and influence no matter how desperately the anti-reunification traitors may try to downplay it.

Immutable are the truth and vitality of the October 4 declaration and nothing can write it off.