calendar>>July 4. 2014 Juche 103

Three Principles of Reunification Serve as Cornerstone: Rodong Sinmun

Pyongyang, July 4 (KCNA) -- The three principles of national reunification serve as the cornerstone of Korea's reunification as they indicates the fundamental stand and way to successfully settle the reunification issue with the concerted efforts of the nation in conformity with its will and interests, says Rodong Sinmun Friday in an article.

It goes on:

The three principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity clarified by President Kim Il Sung were proclaimed at home and abroad through the north-south joint statement on July 4, Juche 61 (1972).

The advancement of the three principles of national reunification helped the Korean nation dynamically advance the movement for national reunification along the road of independence.

In the last century, the north-south dialogue and cooperation undertakings gave all Koreans pleasure and optimism and the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration were adopted at the historic north-south summits. These are the inheritance and development of the July 4 joint statement as they were shining successes made in the struggle of the Korean nation to embody the three principles of national reunification.

In the course of implementing the north-south declarations, the inter-Korean relations driven to antagonism and confrontation entered into the road of reconciliation and unity to develop toward reunification during which the atmosphere of independent reunification, peace and prosperity ran high on the Korean peninsula. These historic facts were a striking demonstration of the validity and vitality of the three principles of national reunification.

The inglorious inter-Korean relations in recent years go to clearly prove that if one behaves going against the three principles of national reunification and the spirit of By Our Nation Itself, the inter-Korean relations will be pushed to distrust and confrontation and this will trigger off only war in the end.

Korea should be reunified on the three principles of national reunification and in the idea of By Our Nation Itself. This is the demand of the era and aspiration and unanimous will of all Koreans.

When the Korean nation usher in a new phase of improving the inter-Korean relations on the three principles of national reunification and in the spirit of By Our Nation Itself, a bright day of independent reunification, peace and prosperity will be open.