Three principles cornerstone of reunion

The three principles of national reunification—independence, peace and great national unity—declared in 1972 in the historic July 4 North-South Joint Statement are the cornerstone of the country's reunification that clarified the fundamental stand on and ways of resolving Korea's reunification issue in line with the will and interests of the nation and by its own efforts.

The cause of national reunification is, in essence, the cause of national independence. Korea was divided by foreign forces, not by any internal contradictions or dispute among the nationals and, therefore, rejecting foreign domination and interference and gaining the nation's independence are the top priority in resolving the reunification issue. The US has been infringing upon the sovereignty of the Korean nation and interfering in its reunification issue for over half a century and it constitutes the major impediment to achieving the cause of Korean reunification. Reality shows that national independence is the fundamental stand that should be maintained invariably to achieve the country's reunification.

Achieving the country's reunification in a peaceful way is a rational and realistic principle reflecting the nation's demand and interests. National reunification should not be accomplished by one side conquering the other, as it is totally contrary to the nation's demand and interests. The reunification by fratricidal war has nothing to do with the national interests. Different ideologies and systems that exist in the north and south of Korea can never be a barrier to the peaceful reunification. However big the gap is between the north and south, it can never be bigger and more important than the common interests of the nation of the same stock.

The principle of great national unity provides a sure guarantee for achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of the country. Only when the Korean nationals are firmly united and join efforts and intelligence can they establish national sovereignty over the whole country and achieve peaceful reunification.

All the Koreans in the north, south and overseas are directly responsible for achieving the cause of national reunification. No outside forces can be more interested in Korea's reunification than the Koreans nor can they do the job for the Koreans. To achieve national reunification foreign domination and interference should not be allowed and the reunification issue should be settled only by the efforts of the nation itself. When all the nationals in the north, south and overseas put first the national ideal, the common interests of the nation, and are united firmly on the basis of it, it is precisely national reunification.

All the Koreans who are worried about the destiny of the nation and aspire after reunification should be united from the standpoint of loving the nation by transcending differences in ideology, political view and religious creed and join efforts and wisdom on the way towards the country's reunification.

The three principles of national reunification which make it possible to reunify the country peacefully by firmly establishing the independent stand on national reunification and achieving the reconciliation between the north and south and the great unity of the whole nation are the correct reunification programme and invariable principles of reunification the Korean nation should firmly hold fast to.

To reunify the country as soon as possible, the aspiration and demand of all the fellow countrymen, it is most important that they should faithfully carry out the three principles of national reunification.

The independent and peaceful reunification of the country, long-cherished desire of the nation, will surely be achieved when the reunification cause of the Koreans progresses ahead on the basis of the three principles of national reunification.

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