One of the feats is the birth of the June 15 reunification era, provided by his seasoned guidance and great magnanimity.

In the year 2000 the April 8 agreement was made between the north and the south of Korea, thanks to his courageous decision. This agreement yielded the north-south summit for the first time in more than 50 years since the division of Korea.

On June 13, 2000, Kim Jong Il met and had open-hearted talks about reunification issues with south Korean President Kim Dae Jung in Pyongyang, providing the adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration the keynote of which is the idea of "By our nation itself".

Under the joint declaration, the people in the south could travel to Pyongyang and such scenic spots in the north as Mts. Paektu, Kumgang and Myohyang and separated families and relatives from the north and the south get reunions in Pyongyang, Seoul and Mt. Kumgang resort.

Also, pro-reunification gatherings took place on the occasions of June 15 and August 15 each year, with attendance of Koreans of different strata from the north and the south and overseas. Severed railways and roads were connected and economic cooperation between the north and the south gained momentum.

In fact, the June 15 joint declaration is based on the idea that independence is the only way out for the Korean nation, and it is a product of leader Kim Jong Il's ardent patriotism.

When this declaration was adopted, the U.S. and the separatists in south Korea made desperate efforts to lay hurdles to its implementation.

To cope with such obstructive moves, Kim Jong Il saw to it that the independent stand was kept steadfastly in handling the reunification issues. He energetically and wisely led the work to ensure that all dialogues and contacts, cooperation and exchanges between the north and the south were held entirely on the principle of national independence.

He met with a south Korean delegation of pressmen and personages of different parties, groups and circles from the south to indicate the ways and orientation for achieving the national unity.

In October 2007, he met with another south Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and signed the "Declaration for the Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity", an action program for implementing the June 15 joint declaration.

Kim Jong Il's patriotic devotion and feats for Korea's reunification will remain in the history of the nation forever.