June 15 is a significant day always remembered by all the Korean people as they declared a dynamic advance for reunification with sufferings from the country's division lasting for over half a century due to the U.S. imperialists, the statement said.

That day in 2000 leader Kim Jong Il, together with President Kim Dae Jung of south Korea, declared the will to put an end to the confrontation between compatriots caused by foreign forces and reunify Korea, it stressed.

The idea of "By our nation itself" that Korea is for the Korean people, not slaves of aggressors, has become a banner of Korea's reunification, it said.

Great progress was made in the development of the north-south relations and the reunification movement after the adoption of the joint declaration, it said. But the movement for Korea's reunification has faced difficulties since rat-like Lee Myung Bak, a stooge of the U.S., took office, it said, and continued:

The spirit of the June 15 declaration is being defamed and the danger of a new war is increasing owing to the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean group of traitors. The joint declaration reflects the unanimous aspiration of all Koreans.

The Korean people will certainly reunify the country.

We voice full solidarity with the Korean people in their struggle.