A meeting for national reunification marking the 11th anniversary of the publication of the October 4 Declaration took place in Pyongyang on October 5.
Present at the meeting were Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK; Kim Yong Dae, vice-president of the SPA Presidium and chairman of the Consultative Council for National Reconciliation; Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country; Pak Myong Chol, presidium member and director of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea who is chairman of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration; An Tong Chun, vice-chairman of the SPA; officials concerned and working people of various circles.
It was attended by the delegation from the south side co-headed by Jo Myong Gyun, minister of Unification; Ri Hae Chan, chairman of the Minju Party who is managing director of the Roh Moo Hyun Foundation; Ri Chang Bok, permanent chairman of the South Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration; Lawmaker Won Hye Yong; O Ko Don, mayor of Pusan City; and Ji Un Hui, former managing director of the Justice Solidarity for Settling the Issue of Sexual Slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army.
Also present there were Son Hyong Gun, chairman of the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration; Ri Tong Je, vice-chairman of the Overseas Side Committee; Cha Sang Bo, vice-chairman of the General Association of Koreans in China; Jong Hak Phil, chairman of the Canadian Regional Committee of the Overseas Side Committee; Son Kyong Sok, permanent representative of the European Regional Committee of the Overseas Side Committee; delegations from the overseas side and overseas compatriots.
Kim Yong Nam made a congratulatory speech.
He warmly welcomed the delegates from the south and overseas sides attending the meeting.
He recalled that Chairman Kim Jong Il and President Roh Moo Hyun adopted the October 4 Declaration at the historic Pyongyang summit and talks 11 years ago to open up a bright prospect for accomplishing the cause of national independence and great unity.
Noting that the leaders of the north and the south held three summit meetings and talks this year to provide the historic Panmunjom declaration and the “September Pyongyang Joint Declaration”, new landmarks for peace and prosperity, to the Koreans, he said all Koreans should turn out in the struggle for implementing the historic north-south declarations.
Then, delegates from the north, south and overseas took the floor.
Ri Son Gwon and Pak Myong Chol said the inter-Korean relations are undergoing an epochal development thanks to warm patriotism and fixed will of the leaders of the north and the south to achieve reunification, calling on the authorities of the north and the south and all Koreans to become pioneers and engines for dynamically advancing on the track of peace and prosperity.
Being pleased with the first event common to the nation hosted in Pyongyang for implementing the historic agreement of the “September Pyongyang Joint Declaration,” Jo Myong Gyun and Ri Hae Chan expressed a conviction that the inter-Korean relations would develop into a new high level, thanks to the Panmunjom declaration and the Pyongyang joint declaration.
Saying that all Koreans have taken a step toward the improvement of the inter-Korean relations, peace, prosperity and reunification, Son Hyong Gun expressed his will to let the compatriots of various circles dynamically conduct the campaign for accelerating the implementation of the historic north-south declarations in various forms and ways.
A joint appeal was released at the meeting.
