Press interview

Let us vigorously intensify the movement for independent reunification with

united efforts of the nation under the banner of the South-North Joint Declaration

(Zo Il-min, representative of the Pyongyang Mission of the AINDF)

Today I am very happy to mark the sixth anniversary of the publication of the historic South-North Joint Declaration together with the north Korean brethren.

I would like to speak about two changes made in south Korea after the publication of the inter-Korean joint declaration.

First, the south Koreans cherished absolute authority and feature of leader Kim Jong Il in their minds.

The south Korean people’s yearning and reverence for the leader are prevalent across south Korea after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration, a milestone for Korea’s reunification.

The south Korean people highly speak of leader Kim Jong Il as the lodestar of reunification and leader who has illuminated the future of the Korean nation during six years.

More than 3,500 photos of the leader and more than 4,500 articles on his greatness were carried in the papers and journals of south Korea during six years.

According to watered-down data released by the south Korean authorities, hundreds of websites introducing the greatness of the leader have opened and more than 2,500 pro-north Korean websites have opened after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.

It is firm will and faith of the south Koreans that they absolutely worship leader Kim Jong Il, the Songun commander of Mt.Baekdu, who defends the national sovereignty and dignity and support the Songun politics in every ways.

Second, the struggle for independence against the US is radically escalated.

The struggle for independence against the US developed into a nationwide struggle after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.

The anti-US struggle was waged by mainly movement circle in the past. The anti-US struggle developed into a nationwide struggle with the attendance of people of all ages and sexes since the publication of the joint declaration.

Various kinds of the anti-US struggle were staged with the participation of more than 23 million people during six years.

The anti-US struggle was radically escalated after the two schoolgirls were killed by the US armored vehicle in June 2002 and fiercer anti-US struggle was happened in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province on May 14 and 15, 2005.

Recent struggle for checking the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek demonstrates to the world the firm volition of the south Korean people to completely withdraw the US troops from south Korea.

Candlelight vigils against the expansion of the US military base were held more than 610 occasions and about 80 anti-US solidarity rallies were held in Pyeongtaek as of May.

The two changes occurred among the patriotic south Koreans after the publication of the joint declaration clearly prove remarkable promotion of the national cooperation in the reunification movement of the south Korean people.

In a word, all process of reunification movement after the publication of the joint declaration is the process of embodying the main spirit of the “by our nation itself” clarified in the joint declaration and further strengthening it.

Politicians of the ruling and opposition parties participated in the June 15 reunification festival held in 2005 unanimously said at that priority should be given to the inter-Korean relations than the south Korea-US alliance. It shows that the national cooperation become an irresistible trend after the publication of the joint declaration.

Facts prove that the joint declaration plays a decisive role in awakening the south Korean people and becomes a driving force accelerating national reunification and movement for independence against the US.

National division is a temporary phenomenon caused by the foreign forces. Division and confrontation are powerless before the inter-Korean joint declaration.

The great influence of the joint declaration encourages the independent spirit of the Korean nation who follows the Songun commander. The great influence promotes the great national unity and encourages the entire Korean nation to rally around the sun of Songun.        

Reflecting boundless reverence of the south Korean people and members of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, I extend my warmest gratitude to leader Kim Jong Il, who provides the June 15 era and leads the entire Korean nation to realize independent reunification and promote great national unity.