The July 4 joint statement is a brilliant fruition of President Kim Il Sung's independent, patriotic idea, the statement said, and went on:

The President clarified the stand long ago that the DPRK would meet with all political parties, public organizations and individuals of south Korea anytime to negotiate the issue of Korea's reunification with them in order to improve the north-south relations and achieve the reunification of the nation. This shows his unbounded magnanimity and ardent patriotic will.

But no sooner had the July 4 joint statement been published than the Park Chung-Hee fascist junta of south Korea, which had been doggedly opposed to the reunification of the country at the instigation of the U.S. imperialists, trampled down the joint statement, arrested and suppressed many pro-reunification patriots and, at same time, escalated the confrontation with the DPRK.

The present ruling forces of south Korea are obstructing the reunification of Korea, escalating the north-south relations and cracking down on pro-reunification patriots and progressives.

The fundamental principles of Korea's reunification clarified in the July 4 joint statement are fully embodied in the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.

We are convinced that the Korean people will reunify the country without fail on the principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity under the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un.