Pyongyang, October 4 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Tuesday dedicates an editorial to the 4th anniversary of the October 4 declaration. It calls on all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad to open a new phase of independent reunification under the uplifted banner of the October 4 declaration.

The adoption of the declaration was a historic event that breathed new life into the Korean nation's struggle for national reunification and provided a milestone for accomplishing the June 15 cause, the editorial says, and goes on:

The declaration clearly indicates the ways for definitely converting the inter-Korean relations into those of mutual respect and confidence, building lasting peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula and expanding multifaceted cooperation and exchanges between the north and the south in the spirit of "By our nation itself".

The implementation of the October 4 declaration precisely leads to peace, prosperity and reunification.

Stand and attitude toward the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration serve as a cornerstone distinguishing inter-Korean concord from confrontation and peace from war.

The DPRK will resolutely counter without any compromise all the acts of negating and going against the joint declarations.

All the Koreans should thwart the anti-reunification attempt of the conservative group to block the implementation of the declarations.

All the Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should fully embody the idea of "By our nation itself" and hold aloft the banner of defending peace in the inter-Korean relations and the movement for national reunification.

They should also boost the unity of the nation.

Difficulties and trials are still lying in the way of the movement for national reunification. No matter how desperately the anti-reunification forces may try, they can never turn back the trend of the nation's history toward independent reunification, peace and prosperity, the editorial concludes.