Pak Kyong Ho, chairman of the confederation, its officials and compatriots were present there.

The participants placed floral baskets and bouquets before the portraits of smiling President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and paid tribute to them.

Pak said in his speech that the publication of the June 15 joint declaration was a historic event which ended the history of distrust and confrontation that had lasted for more than half a century and opened a new era of national reconciliation, unity, reunification, peace and prosperity.

We have keenly realized that if the June 15 joint declaration, a great programme common to the nation and landmark for reunification, is preserved and implemented, a wide avenue for reunification, peace and prosperity will be paved, but denial of it would bring only distrust, confrontation and war, he said, adding:

A bright future will be in store for the nation when the historic north-south joint declarations are respected and implemented. This is the only way of weathering the present great difficulties.

We fully support the appeal of the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration and will positively contribute to ushering in the second June 15 era of reunification.

Then compatriots significantly celebrated the anniversary of the joint declaration, singing songs on the themes of national reunification and dancing.