Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- The Korean nation-first spirit is the mental source for realizing independence of the nation, says Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a bylined article.

The steadfast consciousness of national independence and high national self-respect are a mental mainstay to be kept by all Koreans in realizing the national reunification, the article says, and goes on:

The Koreans have always and ardently loved their country and waged a vigorous struggle to defend independence of the country and the nation.

When all of them are firmly armed with the Korean nation-first spirit, their independent spirit will grow stronger and their zeal to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the nation will remarkably rise.

The division of the nation, which started in the middle of the last century, has lasted for centuries. This tragic reality calls upon all Koreans to give full play to the nation-first spirit and conduct more dynamically the struggle for realizing independence of the nation.

The Korean nation itself is directly responsible for independent reunification, peace and prosperity, and no one can act for the Korean nation in the struggle for national reunification and prosperity.

Our nation-first spirit encourages the Koreans, divided into the north and the south by foreign forces, to have national consciousness and steadfastly preserve the tradition of unity.

All Koreans should keep the strong national self-respect and firm resolution to carve out the brilliant history of the homogeneous nation and build a dignified and prosperous, reunified country by themselves. Only then, is it quite possible to solve any problem arising in realizing the country's reunification.