Statement of the vice-chairman of the AINDF Central Committee

Today the south Koreans significantly mark the 9^th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 Joint Declaration at the time when all the Korean people vigorously wage the struggle to defend the national dignity and realize reunification, frustrating vicious challenges of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad.

The historic inter-Korean summit was held in Pyongyang for the first of its history of division, nine years ago and the June 15 Joint Declaration reflecting the desire and will of the whole Korean nation was adopted. It was a remarkable event in opening a turning point of Korea’s reunification.

With the publication of the June 15 Joint Declaration, a milestone for Korea’s reunification in a new millennium, the June 15 era, in which the Korean nation terminates a half century old inter-Korean mistrust and confrontation to open a wide path for independent reunification with concerted efforts of the nation, was opened. National cooperation and pro-north Korean sentiment has been promoted and south Koreans hold leader Kim Jong Il in reverence. The driving forces of reunification have been strengthened and independent reunification became an irresistible trend of the times.

Spectacular progress and miraculous successes made in the inter-Korean relations and reunification movement are attributable to the greatness and outstanding political ability of Kim Jong Il who leads the June 15 era to victory with his patriotic Songun politics, prominent leadership and broad-mindedness.

Regarding national reunification as his lifelong mission, he arranged another historic Pyongyang summit in October, 2007 and inspired the whole Korean nation with confidence in and optimism about reunification by adopting the Declaration for Development of the South-North Relations and Peace and Prosperity, an action program for the June 15 Joint Declaration.

The south Koreans keenly realized that he is the sun who will bring about the dawn of reunification through the emotional events of the past that had been advanced under the banner of “by our nation itself.” They felt that the country’s reunification would be achieved without fail only when they positively support his Songun politics and leadership for reunification.

The south Koreans are faced with an important task to foil the US and pro-US conservative ruling forces’ war maneuvers against north Korea, defend peace and stability of the country and maintain the June 15 reunification era.

The Lee regime, that has been steeped in pro-US sycophancy and inter-Korean confrontation, totally denied the inter-Korean declarations and all the successes achieved with the concerted efforts of the nation have been evaporated.

The Lee regime drove the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a war by reinforcing the aggressive troops and conducting war games against north Korea in league with the foreign forces. It has pursued the policy of putting pressure on the pro-reunification forces.

The Korean Peninsula is in a touch-and-go situation owing to south Korea’s participation in the PSI, the US-led war tool, and the UN resolution against north Korea, taking the issue of north Korea’s nuclear test to cope with aggressive threat of the US and its followers.

The US and the Lee clique would not block the advance of the Korean nation toward the independent reunification under the banner of “by our nation itself” as long as there exists north Korea with a powerful military strength led by Kim Jong Il, a brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu.

The south Koreans should positively support the Songun politics of Kim Jong Il who resolutely frustrates the reckless war maneuvers of the US and its followers and firmly guarantees the independent reunification.

The June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration are milestones for independent reunification, peace and prosperity, and invincible banners that the whole nation should hold aloft.

Attitude towards the inter-Korean declaration is a touchstone to distinguish patriotism from treachery, reunification from division, and peace from war.

Holding higher the banner of the June 15, the south Koreans from all social standings should wage an intensive struggle to liquidate the Lee regime that has defamed the inter-Korean declarations and pursues the inter-Korean showdown.

They should accelerate a nationwide struggle against the warlike forces at home and abroad to put international pressure upon north Korea and their crazy war provocations against north Korea.

The south Koreans, together with north Koreans would take part in a war for reunification in high spirits, to punish the anti-reunification forces and realize the historic cause of reunification, if the US and the Lee clique unleash a war against north Korea despite of strong protest of the Korean nation and peace-loving people of the world.

The AINDF, together with the south Koreans, would vigorously struggle to bring a new independent society free from foreign forces and traitors to the nation.

June 15, Juche 98 (2009)

Seoul