Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- The triumph of the cause of national reunification hinges on encouraging all Koreans to pool their efforts in the vigorous movement for it while adhering to the principle of national independence.

Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a bylined article.

National independence is a fundamental principle to be preserved by all Koreans in the struggle for reunifying the country, says the article, adding:

To deny this principle and depend on foreign forces is an anti-reunification treachery. The movement for national reunification, which had made long strides after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration, is now going through turns and twists. This is because the south Korean ruling forces have persisted in the confrontation between the north and the south, depending on the anti-reunification foreign forces and in coordination with them.

The driving forces for national reunification are not a privileged class or stratum, but all Koreans and their might depends on unity. They should unite as one under the banner of national independence to fully discharge their responsibility and role as the driving forces for national reunification.

In south Korea the pro-American flunkeyist ruling forces are getting hell-bent on the anti-reunification moves in cahoots with foreign forces while denying the principle of national independence and the idea of "By our nation itself". This reality teaches a lesson that the national reunification can never be achieved unless the Koreans foil the moves of traitors obsessed with sycophancy towards the U.S. and dependence on foreign forces.

Whether to pursue national independence or dependence on outsiders is a litmus paper distinguishing reunification from division and patriotism from treachery.

In the course of the struggle for national reunification there can be change in terms of its detailed method according to situation, but no change in the principle and stand of national independence.