The joint editorial set forth tasks for bringing about a decisive turn in accomplishing the cause of Korea's reunification, the statement said, and continued:

Today the dear respected Kim Jong Un, another matchless patriot, stands in the van of the drive for carrying out the cause of Korea's reunification which advances under the banner of the three charters for national reunification and the north-south joint declarations.

Last year, proceeding from a patriotic intention to open a new phase for reunification and prosperity, the DPRK proposed dialogue and negotiations to south Korea, and has made consistent efforts to realize them.

However, the south Korean authorities responded by intensifying worship for the United States, stoking confrontation with the fellow countrymen in the north and escalating war maneuvers against the north while going against the trend of the times and the public sentiments.

They turned away from the DPRK which deeply mourned the greatest loss of the nation and blocked south Koreans from expressing condolences.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the publication of the October 4 Declaration.

The joint editorial noted that all the fellow countrymen in the north, south and abroad should maintain the transparent stand of preserving national independence and putting the nation's interests above all so as to make the atmosphere of positively supporting and implementing the north-south declarations pervade the whole territory.

The editorial called on the entire nation to hold higher the banner of peace against war and foil every reckless military provocation, arms buildup and DPRK-targeted war exercises and heighten vigilance against the danger of military collusion of the bellicose forces at home and abroad and get the U.S. aggressor forces pulled out of south Korea.

The Thailand-DPRK Friendship Association extends full support to the joint New Year editorial of the DPRK and is convinced that the Korean people would bring about a decisive turn in accomplishing the cause of the country's reunification this year.