Referring to the fact that the present chief executive of south Korea cried out for "early unification" in a foreign country, the editorial went on:

Reunification of Korea is not the matter to be dealt with a foreign country but an issue to be settled with the north.

It is a big mistake to calculate that big changes would take place on the Korean Peninsula thanks to a certain role of outside forces to bring reunification.

The "diplomacy for unification" touted by the present regime is contrary to the great principle agreed upon by the south and the north so far.

The south and the north of Korea agreed on the principle of reunification-- independence, peace and great national unity-- in the July 4 joint statement in 1972, the June 15 joint declaration in 2000 and the October 4 declaration in 2007. Reunification is the task to be carried out by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation and there is no other way for it.