North Korea has stressed its sincerity in its recent proposal to halt all acts of military hostility between the Koreas, highlighting the three principles of reunification stipulated in the 1972 inter-Korean statement.

On the 42nd anniversary of the July 4 Joint Statement, the North's state controlled Rodong Sinmun, said the recent icy relations between the two Koreas are a clear result of what happens when the three principles of independence, peace and national unity are not upheld.

The paper pitched the idea that Pyongyang's recent proposal demonstrates the North's commitment to the three principles. 

Meanwhile, the paper also carried editorials by officials blasting the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and urging South Korea to accept the North's proposal.