For Opening New Phase of Independent Reunification

“Let all Koreans in the north, south and abroad join efforts and bring a new phase independent reunification!” This is a slogan set forth in the joint New Year editorial.

The Slogan reflects the firm faith in the united efforts of the Korean nation, driving force for national reunification, and bright future of the nation to be shaped by them.

All the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should turn out in the patriotic drive for independent reunification true to the militant slogan to fulfill the responsibility and duty they have assumed before the nation.

This patriotic slogan reflects the desire and will of the Koreans and the requirement of the times.

The most urgent task in defending and realizing independence of the nation is to reunify the divided country as soon as possible. For the Koreans, reunification precisely means patriotism.

The basic duty for them this year is to bring a new phase of independent reunification.

No one can replace the Korean nation in reunifying the country and its wisdom, will and strength serve as a source for ushering in the bright dawn of reunification.

Every Korean should dedicate strength, contribute knowledge and donate money, anything he or she has, for reunification.

DPRK to Improve Relations with Any Country that Respect Its Sovereignty

The DPRK is willing to improve and normalize even with those countries that had been in hostile relations with it, if they repeal their hostile policy toward it and respect its sovereignty and dignity.

Independence, peace and friendship are avowed idea of foreign policy of the Workers Party of Korea and the DPRK government.

The joint New Year editorial specified this idea again an indication of their revolutionary will to remain true to it The DPRK, a country of international prestige has developed relations of friendship, cooperation and good-neighborliness with many countries

It has advocated independence in relations with foreign countries.

It is a fundamental principle and mode of activities of the WPK and the DPRK government in making revolution and construction to judge every issue independently and solve it according to its faith.

The DPRK has actively supported the just cause of people of those countries respecting others’ sovereignty and advocating independence.

The Korean people will always hold high the banner of peace and work hard in solidarity with world peace-loving people to defend peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world from the imperialists’ aggression and war moves.

It is the consistent stand of the DPRK government and the unanimous desire and wish of humankind to develop friendly and cooperative relation with all the countries desirous of independence.

Slogan for Reunification and Prosperity

Greeting the New Year, the Korean people are resolved to redouble their efforts for the improvement of the relations between the north and the south of Korea and the reunification of the country. They want to make the second of the 21” century a decade of reunification and prosperity.

Despite the obstruction of the separatists within and without, the 10^th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration and the 30^th anniversary of the proposal for founding the Democratic federal Republic of Koryo were commemorated significantly in the north, south and abroad last year, powerfully demonstrating the ardent desire of the nation for the reunification.

It is thanks to the DPRK’s Songun (military-first) politics based on patriotism and its persevering efforts that a war was deterred on the Korean peninsula and the pro-reunification movement of the nation made a steady progress.

It is high time that the entire nation turned out in the effort to prevent a war and ensure peace on the peninsula, providing an atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation between the two halves of the country with the common interests of the nation placed above anything else.

“Let all Koreans in the north, south and abroad join efforts and bring a new phase of independent reunification!”-- this is a slogan the Korean people should hold high in this year’s effort for the reunification, peace and prosperity of the nation.

Important Proposal for Peace and Reunification Advanced

The DPRK government political parties and organizations at a joint meeting convened as regards the grave situation prevailing on the Korean Peninsula and between the north and the south discussed important issues of settling it and opening a new phase for peace and reunification and released a joint statement on Jan.5.

In the joint statement, they set forth the following important proposal to the south Korean authorities, political parties and organizations, prompted by their patriotic decision to usher in a new era of independent reunification, peace and prosperity reflecting the unanimous will of all Koreans for peace and reunification:

1. We courteously propose having wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations with the political parties and organizations of south Korea including its authorities.

It is the review of the past three years that the issue of inter-Korean relations can never be solved by confrontation but it only sparks off an armed clash and war.

In order to mend the north-south relations now at the lowest ebb we will conduct positive dialogue and negotiations with the political panics and organizations of south Korea including its authorities, be they authorities or civilians, ruling parties or opposition parties, progressives or conservatives.

We call for an unconditional and early opening of talks between the authorities having real power and responsibility in particular.

2. We are ready to meet anyone anytime and anywhere, letting bygones be bygones, if he or she is willing to go hands in hands with us.

For the great cause of the nation present is more important than yesterday and tomorrow is dearer than present.

The danger of war will be defused and the day of peace, reunification and prosperity be brought earlier when all Korean assert in concert and pool then wisdom and effort.

3. We will discuss and solve all the issues related to the important matters of the nation including detente, peace, reconciliation, unity and cooperation at dialogue, negotiations and contacts.

The north and the south art called upon to sincerely approach the discussion on the issues related to the important issues of the nation irrespective of partisan interests and strategy and isms and make positive efforts to seek agreed points to the maximum.

4. As an immediate offer, we propose discontinuing to heap slanders and calumnies on each other and refraining from any act of provoking each other in order to create an atmosphere of improving the inter-Korean relations.

Dialogue and negotiations cannot be properly conducted nor can they make smooth progress even if the north and south sit at the negotiating table when mud-slinging and provocative acts against each other are allowed.

We call on the north and the south to refrain from now from the smear campaign and provocative act of deepening misunderstanding and distrust and inciting confrontation and hostility.

Consistent is our stand to improve the inter-Korean relations, promote national reconciliation and unity and open a landmark phase of peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiations.

The government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK express expectation that the authorities, political parties and organizations of south Korea will positively respond to their sincere proposal and appeal for weathering the crisis on the peninsula and between the north and the south. They also call on all the Koreans at home and abroad, all governments, political parties and organizations in the world, international organizations and progressive people that love justice, truth and peace to extend warm support and solidarity to them.

Call for Improved Inter-Korean Relations

It is impossible to achieve independent reunification, peace and prosperity unless the present inter Korean relations are turned into the relations of reconciliation and unity.

The improved inter-Korean relations are the unanimous aspiration of the compatriots and an urgent demand of the times.

National reconciliation and unity would be unthinkable without the dialogue and cooperation between the north and the south.

To actively pursue dialogue and cooperation is one of the important ways to solve the issue of the nation s destiny independently and peacefully by the concerted efforts of the Koreans

It is necessary to create the atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation between the north and the south by placing the interests common to the nation above anything else.

The purpose of dialogue and cooperation is to remove the distrust and confrontation between the north and the south, promote the national reconciliation and unity and hasten independent reunification.

Dialogue and cooperation should be oriented to trusting and respecting each other, pushing aside differences and finding common points with sincerity and magnanimity, prompted by the single-minded patriotic desire.

In order to develop the inter-Korean relations and inject vitality into them in line with the aspiration of the compatriots and the demand of the times it is necessary to actively realize visits, contacts and cooperation not only between authorities hut between people from all walks of life in the north, south and abroad.

When all the political parties and organizations in the north, south and abroad and compatriots from oil walks of life make tangible contributions, supporting each other and taking joint actions on the road of reunification and patriotism, national reconciliation and unity and independent reunification will come true earlier.

North Side Sends Notices to South Side

The Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, the Chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society and the chief of the north side to the Consultative Office for North-South Economic Cooperation separately sent notices to the Ministry of Unification of the south side, the president of the south Korean Red Cross and the chief of the south side to the Consultative Office for North-South Economic Cooperation in Monday. They formally informed them of the practical measures as clarified in the important proposal set forth in the recent joint statement of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations and the statement issued by a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea as regards the measures for putting it into practice.

They proposed having a working contact for talks between the authorities of the north and the south in Kaesong on January 27 and talks between the Red Cross organizations of the north and the south in Munsan, the area of the south side, on February 1. They informed them that the Panmunjom Red Cross liaison channel would be reopened and the above-said office would be regularly operated from January 12.

The General Guidance Bureau for the Development of Scenic Spots and the General Bureau for Central Guidance to the Development of the Special Zone of the DPRK on Wednesday separately sent notices to the Ministry of Unification of south Korea and the chief of the Supporting Team for South-North Cooperation Zones of the Ministry as clarified in the important proposal set forth in the recent joint statement of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations and the statement issued by a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea for putting it into practice.

The north side in the notices proposed having talks for the resumption of the tour of Mt. Kumgang in Kaesong on February 11 and informed that three persons concerned of the north side would go there The north side also proposed having working talks on the work of the Kaesong Industrial Zone in Kaesong on February 9.

Meanwhile, the north side reopened the Panmunjom Red Cross liaison channel and formally began its work from Wednesday. It also lifted the freezing of the Consultative Office for North-South Economic Cooperation and dispatched resident personages there as practical steps as the south side was informed on Monday.

The south side in its verbal notice agreed with the issue of opening the Panmunjom Red Cross liaison channel But it took such insincere attitude toward the restart of the work of the above-said office, saying it would not send its personnel to it under the pretext of the derailed cooperation and claiming that it is impossible to operate the office and supply electricity to the building.

In this connection, the director of the north side to the office in a notice sent to the director of the south side to the office Wednesday termed its intention not to operate even the office after unilaterally scuttling the north-south economic cooperation a very irresponsible attitude He once again strongly urged the south side to take early practical measures for the regular operation of the office.

Motto of Korean People

The joint New Year editorial issued by leading newspapers of the DPRK says, “Fight and create as befit the descendants of President Kim Il Sung — this is the Korean people’s motto.”

Kim Il Sung is the founder of socialist Korea.

The Korean people venerate him, who rendered great services to the nation, as the eternal sun of Juche. His services have been carried forward by leader Kim Jong Il.

The Korean people, under Kim Jong Il’s wise leadership based on the Songun (military-first) politics, have successfully accelerated the building of a thriving nation as befit the descendants of the President.

They try even what others think is impossible, create world-shaking things and do everything in a far-sighted way so that it can bring benefits to the coming generations. This is their disposition, spirit and working manner.

Call for Global Independence

It is the common task of humankind to achieve global independence. Only when anti-imperialist independent countries and nations struggle, aware of being responsible for the cause of global independence, can they display strong will power and practical ability and boost solidarity and unity among them.

The progressive countries aspiring after independence, socialism and justice are the main force in the struggle to achieve global independence.

All the anti-imperialist independent forces should unite as one in order to prevail over imperialism.

What is important for achieving their unity is for all the progressive forces, including the socialist movement, the non-aligned movement and the world peace movement to unite close under the banner of global independence. The communist and workers’ parties advocating socialism and other revolutionary parties should firmly maintain their anti-imperialist stand and firmly unite on the basis of comradely relations of mutual respect and cooperation.

The Workers’ Party of Korea and the DPRK government have worked hard for global independence, regarding it as their noble task and international obligation to struggle for the cause.

The world socialist movement was saved from its temporary crisis and has since made dynamic progress under the banner of the Pyongyang declaration. The NAM has creditably performed its mission and role, augmenting its position as a strong independent force against imperialism in the present era. These would be unthinkable without positive activities and efforts of the WPK and the DPRK government.

They will as ever carry on the staunch struggle to achieve global independence.

Young People in DPRK Play Key Role in Building Thriving Nation

Young people in the DPRK successfully overcame the arduous march, the forced march and have displayed the wisdom and courage of young vanguard in the efforts to open a gate to a thriving nation for the past 15 years.

Leader Kim Jong Il made sure that the youth league was named after President Kim Il Sung and awarded to it a flag bearing his portrait in January 1996.

Young people have performed heroic teats in building edifices in the era of Songun including the Youth Hero Highway, the Kumgangsan Youth Railway, Thaechon Youth Power Stations No.1 and 2.

Those in four pilot sectors and other venous fields of the national economy have made breakthrough in building an economic power through shock brigade campaign.

Young scientists and technicians have made big progress in the core and basic technologies including IT, Nano technology and bio-engineering and the latest scientific and technological development, positively contributing to pushing ahead with technological updating of the national economy.

Winners of Kim Il Sung Youth Honor Prize and numbers of model primary organizations of youth vanguard have been on increase during these days.

400 units and more than 2 690 members of the youth league were awarded Kim Il Sung Youth Honor Prize. At least 7 770 primary organizations won the title of thrice model primary organizations of youth vanguard.

The youth are performing miracles and innovation in building the Huichon Power Station, the Paektusan Youth Power Station, in the construction sites of 100 000 flats now underway in the capital and other places.