Report on Kim Jong Il's Contribution to National Security and Regional Peace:

Foreign Ministry Institute

The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of the DPRK Foreign Ministry released a report on Leader Kim Jong Il's immortal contribution to security and peace in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia on Wednesday on the occasion of his 70th birth anniversary.

 The full text of the report is as follows:

Leader Kim Jong Il’s was the life of a patriot and champion of peace dedicated to the country and its independent and peaceful reunification.

 With his outstanding ideas and leadership, Kim Jong Il, endowed with deep love for the country and the nation, opened up a new era of reunification, June 15 reunification era, at the turn of a new century and brought national reunification within hailing distance, thereby making an immense contribution to the efforts aimed at securing peace and security in Northeast Asia and the world.

 The international community still cherishes the happy memory of the meaningful days; the days which were inaugurated with the historic inter-Korean summit, first of its kind since the national division; a series of events that followed the DPRK-U.S. Joint Communique, the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and discussion of talks for the declaration of the end of the Korean War and instilled hope into the heart of the mankind longing for national reunification and regional peace.

 All these signal events were precious results of the June 15 era of independent reunification Kim Jong Il ushered in, pursuing Songun politics and fully guaranteeing the security of the Korean Peninsula.

 The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of the DPRK Foreign Ministry hereby releases this report on the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il by summing up historical research chronicles which relate only to the part of what he contributed towards ensuring the security of the Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia in his immortal exploits for national reunification.

1. Laying the keystone for security on the Korean Peninsula

 National reunification and security are issues of utmost importance for the Korean nation that has suffered from national division and constant threat of war for more than half a century.

 Reunification and security of the Korean Peninsula are direcltly inter-related.

 Any way of thinking and attempt to achieve reunification by forcing the social system of one side upon the other would trigger confrontation and lead to a war in the long run.

 The past history of inter-Korean relations is showing that the theory of "unification of systems" itself is one of the root causes which gravely threaten the security of the Korean Peninsula by feeding distrust and triggering tension.

 It was all the more evident through the theory of "unification by prevailing over communism" sought by military dictatorial governments of south Korea. The theory of "unification of systems" advocated by the south Korean "civilian government" in the 1990s had also deepened distrust between the north and the south and wreaked havoc with the situation of the Korean Peninsula.

 Leader Kim Jong Il unfolded the great Songun politics and opened up the June 15 era of reunification. Through this, he delivered a decisive blow to the attempts of hostile forces to stifle the DPRK as well as to the theory of "unification of systems" and opened up the future of independent and peaceful reunification of the country. Herein lie the immortal exploits for national reunification performed by him, who had made contribution to ensuring the security of the Korean Peninsula.

 He decisively smashed the pressure and threats of the U.S. and its followers against the DPRK, secured a firm guarantee for defending security of the Korean Peninsula and provided the general principles for national reunification.

 In his historic work "Let us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification" on August 4, 1997, Kim Jong Il formulated the great reunification legacies of President Kim Il Sung--Three Principles of National Reunification, 10-Point Programme of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation and the Proposal for Founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo--into the Three Charters for National Reunification and, thus, provided all Koreans with undying banner to be upheld in the efforts to reunify the country.

 The core and goal of the Three Charters for National Reunification, as clarified by Kim Jong Il, is to establish an independent unified state on the Korean Peninsula by federal formula.

 Reunification by federal formula is not only reasonable but also just and fair reunification formula because it doesn't presuppose supremacy or interest of one side only. So, this formula serves as the best way for ensuring security of the Korean Peninsula.

 Kim Jong Il opened up the June 15 era of reunification based on the three charters with his prominent leadership ability and strong power of execution.

 The inter-Korean summit, the first of its kind in the history of national division that lasted more than half a century, was held in June 2000, resulting in the adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.

 The north and the south, through June 15 Joint Declaration, came to agree at the highest level on the way of reunification which would ensure security of the Korean Peninsula based on the idea of "By our nation itself".

 This made it possible for the inter-Korean relations to develop on the basis of co-existence and co-prosperity, and a new chapter recorded as the "June 15 era of reunification" could go down in history.

 As the inter-Korean relations turned and moved towards reconciliation and unity, it became possible to agree on lots of measures to build up trust and ensure security, things that had looked impossible in the past.

 The second inter-Korean summit, held on October 4, 2007, resulted in the adoption of the "Declaration for the Development of the North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity". This Declaration stipulated that a large portion of the disputed waters in the West Sea, where the risk of accidental clash was high, should be turned into a peace zone and that the two sides of Korea should cooperate with each other in encouraging parties concerned to declare the end of the Korean War.  This is a good example of showing that the June 15 reunification era made not a small contribution to ensuring security on the Korean Peninsula.

 The anti-DPRK confrontation fanatics took power in south Korea and advocated the old theory of "unification of systems", driving the inter-Korean relations into the biggest catastrophe ever in history. The present situation goes to prove that only the June 15 reunification era can bring earlier national reunification and safeguard national security. 

 The June 15 reunification era is a golden legacy of securing security on the Korean Peninsula Leader Kim Jong Il left for the entire Korean nation.

2. Contribution towards Ensuring Peace in Northeast Asia

 Northeast Asia is of more importance than any other regions in ensuring global peace and security.

 World War I which broke out in the 20th century began and ended in Europe. But World War II began in Europe and ended in Northeast Asia. This can be called a historical phenomenon indicating a gradual shift of strategic gravity of the world.

 As we enter into the 21st century, strategic gravity of Northeast Asia is more striking and accelerated in its shift. Economic gravity is now on the move to the Asia-Pacific region. This also caused military and strategic importance to be moved into Northeast Asia.

 What is also moved into Northeast Asia is the Cold War structure between the East and the West which once divided Europe, and there is a symptom that this Cold War structure would reappear as a "new Cold War" structure of dividing Northeast Asia into two.

 Northeast Asia, far from having such a multilateral security regime at a regional level as can be found in Europe and Southeast Asia, only has in place the vestige of the cold war that exists in the form of U.S.-south Korea military alliance and U.S.-Japan military alliance. As the days go by, those military alliances are causing a threat to regional security and global peace.

 As long as a force with its eye on global domination does exist in this world, it is a par for the course that there would be a limit to the build-up of trust between the countries, and the danger of conflict would never cease to hang over.

 Such being the situation, Northeast Asia does need to have a buffer zone which is capable of dividing physically big powers confronting with each other. Buffer zone is to draw the line between those involved in the disputes in regions. This approach of establishing a buffer zone is recognized as an effective method of ensuring peace through years of international practices.

  The Korean Peninsula is in a delicate and odd geographical position of being sandwiched between big powers, a position which is sensitive enough to bring the neighboring big powers to a fight or prevent them from doing it. If the Korean Peninsula is reunified and stands neutral and independent, it can hold in check possible conflicts between neighboring big powers. But, to the contrary, if it opts to remain divided and seek a confrontational approach, it would feed the excuse of a fight to big powers and get itself drawn into that fight. This is what we call the delicate position of the Korean Peninsula. History shows that if and when the inter-Korean relations remain tense, neighboring big countries also remain tense in their own relations and heightened their own military showdowns.

 It is from such a delicate position of the Korean Peninsula that the world expected that the peninsula, situated in the middle of Northeast Asia, would be a buffer zone between big powers.

 What Kim Jong Il opened as the June 15 era of reunification made it possible to bring a new phase in ensuring security of the Korean Peninsula and peace of Northeast Asia.

  In the past, people in neighboring and some other countries of the world took an ambivalent approach towards this formula of federal reunification. They said this formula is a good one for Korea's reunification, but they remained skeptical over the possible realization of it, saying it would be difficult to do so unless the north and the south agreed on it.

 Kim Jong Il agreed with the south Korean side, through June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, on the way of reunification which would guarantee security of both the north and the south of the Korean Peninsula, thus instilling a new hope and faith for national reunification into the people at home and abroad.

  If federal reunification is achieved, our country would naturally be a national unified state which is independent, peace-loving and neutral. This would make it possible for the Korean Peninsula to become a bulwark for ensuring peace in Northeast Asia enabling it to play a role of buffer zone between big powers.

  The Inter-Korean Joint Declaration holds a great significance in ensuring peace in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world. This constitutes one of the reasons of why this Declaration has received full support and welcome from all countries of the world, and UN and other international organizations, let alone from the entire Korean nation.

 The June 15 era of reunification proved that if the inter-Korean relations were improved, it would set a tone for the overall atmosphere of the region and would eventually go a long way towards providing an atmosphere of global detente.

 Just after the June 15 Joint Declaration was made public, a special envoy of Kim Jong Il visited Washington and met the U.S. President first ever in the history of DPRK-U.S. relations, and a subsequent DPRK-U.S. Joint Communique was announced. Following that, the U.S. Secretary of State visited Pyongyang.

 The Japanese Prime Minister visited Pyongyang and a DPRK-Japan Summit was held for the first time in the history of their relations, and a subsequent DPRK-Japan Declaration was adopted. The West, which had not recognized DPRK for dozens of years, established diplomatic relations with DPRK all at once. This all had happened in the June 15 era of reunification.

 Especially, six-way talks was held first time with the participation of the countries from Northeast Asia and an important regional agreement, i.e., the September 19 Joint Statement, was reached.

The June 15 era of reunification showed that only when the inter-Korean relations were oriented towards co-existence and co-prosperity it would help defend security on the Korean Peninsula. That era also showed that neighboring countries are accepting such developments with a good grace.

 The situation of the Korean Peninsula is now on the brink of war due to the present south Korean authorities and the U.S. capitalized on this to deploy its military force massively into Northeast Asia. Such situation is producing evidence that national reunification is holding a clinching significance in guaranting security of the region.

 A dark cloud of cold war was hanging over Northeast Asia. Just at this time, Kim Jong Il held aloft the banner of Songun and brought to us the June 15 era of reunification. Through this, he provided a sure guarantee for peace and security in Northeast Asia. Herein lie his immortal feats for national reunification.

3. Great Exploits that Will Be Everlasting in the World

 The Korean nation started its movement for the country's reunification at the very day when it was divided. Since then, it has undergone through a myriad of turns and twists year after year.

 It experienced confrontations over policies between reunification and division, which all came out of the moves pursued by separatists at home and abroad. The same is truth in case of confrontations between the formula of federal reunification and the theory of "unification of systems".

 As the struggle for national reunification drags on and a generation changes, we also found some people in south Korea and some other countries who lost their hopes for reunification. Some even thought that reunification is as far off as the Moon.

 But, all the fellow countrymen and the world people, getting along in the June 15 reunification era, came to have firm confidence that it is quite possible to achieve the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula and so there is practical possibility of ensuring a lasting peace in Northeast Asia.

 Even today, exacerbating confrontation between the north and the south drives the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. However, our army and people remain optimistic about the prospect of national reunification and are full of confidence to drive out confrontation maniacs and safeguard security in the peninsula. All this is attributable to treasured sword of Songun and inter-Korean declarations provided by Kim Jong Il.

 It is important to steadily defend and enrich the valuable reunification achievements of Kim Jong Il, who made an immortal contribution to the prosperity of the nation and global peace. Herein lies a sure guarantee for finally ensuring national reunification and security of the Korean Peninsula all together.

 What is important is to implement to the letter the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and its action programme, the October 4 Declaration, which were all provided by Kim Jong Il.

 Those two declarations are a symbol of the June 15 reunification era and beacon of reunification and peace.

 First of all, we should base ourselves on the idea of "By our nation itself" in getting all of our efforts oriented towards the national reunification which would help secure security on the Korean Peninsula. The level of mutual confidence between the north and the south should be restored to the same level as it was in the June 15 reunification era without any delay by thoroughly demolishing the temporarily revived specter of "unification of systems".

 The first step in establishing the lasting peace regime throughout the Korean Peninsula is to turn the West Sea of Korea, where the risk of clash is high, into the area of peace as stipulated in the October 4 Declaration.

 Implementation of the inter-Korean declarations is in full accord with the interests of all countries that show concern over peace in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

 Neighboring and other countries concerned are worried about the present bedeviled relations between the north and the south of Korea. They all could hardly refrain from recalling the time, with a fond and nostalgic memory, when the inter-Korean declarations were adopted and implemented, a time when everybody felt safe and sound and got benefit from the adoption and implementation of the above declarations.

 Now only a handful of people refuse to implement those declarations in the Korean Peninsula. Immediately after the present south Korean authorities took office, they spoke ill of the June 15 reunification era, defiling it as "lost 10 years". But, they are now standing before the court of judgment for their crimes.

 If a country truly wants to see the provision of security in the Korean Peninsula, it should squarely see that the only way to do it is to implement the declarations that would lead to improved relations between the north and the south and, further, to peace and security in Northeast Asia, instead of lending its ear to the sophism of the south Korean authorities.

 If a country keeps its distance from mentioning the implementation of the inter-Korean declarations while talking about the need to improve the inter-Korean relations, this would rather be viewed as an unconstructive attitude of taking sides with the present south Korean authorities which remain dead set against the declarations. At present, the U.S. often talks that it wants to see the improved relations between the north and the south, but it still bypasses any chance of expressing its stand towards the implementation of those declarations, only to keep us doubtful about its willingness. This is a typical example of an unconstructive attitude by a certain country towards the inter-Korean declarations.

 The stand towards the inter-Korean declarations is an acid test which will determine who stands for or against security of the Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia.

 The cause of national reunification started by President Kim Il Sung and advanced victoriously by Kim Jong Il is truly entering into a new historical turning point.

 Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of our Party, State and Army, now stands at the helm of our people in their general march to brilliantly accomplish the cause of national reunification, true to the behests of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

 The movement of national reunification is sure to emerge victorious as there are the Dear Respected Kim Jong Un and the great idea of independent and peaceful reunification that guides all Koreans with the idea of "By our nation itself".

 The immortal exploits of Kim Jong Il for national reunification will remain long in the history of a reunified country.