Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee, said this in a statement issued on Friday on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of the publication of the October 4 declaration.

The statement went on:

The October 4 declaration along with the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration is a reunification programme common to the nation in the new century and a landmark for independent reunification, peace and prosperity.

The Koreans in Japan, too, warmly supported and hailed the publication of the October 4 declaration and dynamically joined in the nationwide struggle for implementing it as it marked another event in the nation's history which put the June 15 era of reunification on a higher level.

The Koreans have steadfastly advanced along the road of reunification despite of turns and twists. This is thanks to the inter-Korean joint declarations, landmarks for reunification and signposts of hope.

It is the unshakable faith and will of the Koreans in Japan to advance

along the road of reunification and patriotism, holding higher the

banner of the June 15 declaration.

However, the inter-Korean relations are inching close to an uncontrollable crisis again due to the frantic confrontation rackets of the south Korean puppet conservative group quite contrary to the aspiration and desire of the fellow countrymen for reconciliation, unity and reunification.

The present reality clearly indicates that there can be neither peace on the Korean Peninsula nor the development of the inter-Korean relations without the implementation of the inter-Korean joint declarations.

We will make the enthusiasm to implement the joint declarations grow stronger among the Koreans in Japan from all walks of life and boost solidarity and alliance with the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and overseas in the idea of "By our nation itself" and thus make a tangible contribution to ushering in the second June 15 era of reunification by the concerted efforts of all Koreans, concluded the statement