TRADITIONS OF GREAT NATIONAL UNITY IN KOREA

Today a vigorous struggle is being conducted in Korea in order to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country through the great national unity under the idea of “by our nation itself”. It is the steadfast faith and will of the Korean people that they can surely accomplish their long-cherished desire of national reunification when all the compatriots in the north, south and overseas are united irrespective of ideas and ideals, systems and party affiliation, religious beliefs ad political groupings.

The great national unity in Korea is based on a deep foundation.

On May 5, 1936, 76 years ago from now, President Kim Il Sung founded the Association for the Restoration of the Fatherland (ARF) as an anti-Japanese national united front body to liberate Korea from the military occupation of Japan.

In response to his idea of the great national unity the Koreans from all walks of life, transcending differences in thoughts and ideals, political views and religious beliefs, property status and social positions, were embraced in the ARF, giving top priority to their country’s liberation, the common demand and interest of the nation.

The ARF contributed greatly to overthrowing the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists and achieving Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945.

After liberation, the President, based on the tradition of the great national unity, raised the slogan of calling on all Koreans to the building of a new country, those with strength dedicating strength, those with knowledge devoting knowledge and those with money offering money, and encouraged the people from all strata of society who love the country and the nation to come out as one for the building of a democratic, independent and sovereign state.

In 1948 there was the danger that the division of the nation would be perpetuated owing to the machinations of the United States to hold a “separate election” and establish a “separate government” in south Korea. He convened the north-south joint conference to arouse different political parties and groups and patriotic forces of different sections of the population in the north and the south to the struggle for realizing the sovereignty, independence and reunification of the country.

Entering the 1970s he opened the way to dialogues and negotiations between the north and the south, which had been tightly closed each other, and advanced the three principles for national reunification - independence, peaceful reunification and a great national unity - laying a solid foundation for national unity and national reunification.

The Ten-point Program of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation for the Reunification of the Country written by the President in April 1993 can be said to be the summary of his idea of great national unity and his practical experience. This program elucidates the fundamental principles and the ideological basis to be maintained in achieving the great unity of the nation and the specific tasks and ways of implementing them.

President Kim Il Sung’s idea of great national unity was carried forward successfully by leader Kim Jong Il.

It was his unshakable determination and will to reunify the country on the strength of great national unity by defending and faithfully inheriting the great idea of national unity, brilliant achievements, valuable experience and traditions left by the President.

Even under the complicated situation after President Kim Il Sung passed away on July 8, 1994, Kim Jong Il dedicated his all to carry out his instructions for national reunification.

In April 1998 he made public Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully Through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation, in which he pointed out that the idea of great national unity, the ten-point program of the great unity of the whole nation advanced by the President, the valuable experience he gained in his work for national unity and the brilliant results of his distinguished services are the solid foundation for great national unity and national reunification.

True to the President’s idea of great national unity, Kim Jong Il made strenuous efforts to embrace and unite all the people who love the country and the nation, irrespective of their ideology and ideals, class and stratum.

He stated on several occasions that he would also join hands with people from upper classes in power, figures from the ruling party and the opposition party, big capitalists and brass hats of south Korea under the banner of great unity of the nation, if they value the common interests of the nation and want the country’s reunification.

He showed his broadmindedness of meeting south Korean presspersons and business people as well as politicians, inspiring them to contribute to the common cause of national reunification.

He met several times Jong Ju Yong, honorary president of the Hyundai Business Group in south Korea, his son Jong Mong Hon and his family members and took all measures to help them render distinguished services to the prosperity common to the nation and the cause of national reunification.

Thanks to his courageous decision the historic inter-Korean summit was held in June 2000 for the first time in the history of Korea’s division, producing the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration which solemnly declared to solve the question of the country’s reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation. Another summit was held in October 2007 and the October 4 Declaration, an action program for the June 15 Joint Declaration, was adopted there, shedding a brighter light on Korea’s reunification.

Korea will surely be reunified under the banner of great national unity.