Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- The North Side, South Side and Overseas Side Committees for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration released a resolution on Wednesday, the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Korea.

Noting the country was liberated to end the heinous colonial rule by the Japanese imperialists which had lasted for more than 40 years but the pain of national division being suffered by the Korean nation has lingered on for more than 70 years, the resolution said:

The two historic north-south summit meetings and the publication of the Panmunjom declaration have ushered in a new era of peace, prosperity and reunification.

Calling for forcing Japan to pay at an early date for the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule and aggression against Koreans and preserving the dignity and full sovereignty of the Korean nation, the resolution went on:

Though more than 70 years have lapsed since the defeat of Japan, it has not yet acknowledged the fact about its past cruel colonial domination over Korea, far from making apology, but makes no scruple of committing discrimination, human rights abuses, political persecution and suppression against the Koreans in Japan, claiming its "dominium over Tok Island" and being hell-bent on the moves for launching reinvasion.

To force Japan to pay dearly for its colonial rule over the Korean nation and crimes of aggression against it is just the issue of clearing the disgrace suffered due to the Japanese imperialists, setting right the justice of history and restoring the self-respect of the Korean nation.

Thanks to the historic north-south summit meetings and the Panmunjom declaration, the north and the south have come to advance toward a new future of peace and reunification after putting an end to the era of confrontation.

However, there are still many challenges and obstacles blocking the development of the inter-Korean relations and the implementation of the Panmunjom declaration.

If the north and the south do not let loose the hands firmly held with each other but invariably adhere to the principle of national independence, the future of a peaceful and prospering reunified country will soon come.

When all Koreans at home and abroad unanimously defend and support the historic Panmunjom declaration and turn out in the drive for implementing it, all remnants and deep-rooted evils of the confrontational era will be cleared to advance toward peace and reunification.

Let's make a new history of independent reunification with the concerted efforts of all Koreans, true to the noble spirit and patriotic intention for reunification of the top leaders of the north and the south!