North Korean media say the inter-Korean summit agreements signed in 2000 and 2007 are in line with the July 4th Joint Communique of 1972.

Marking the 36th anniversary of the July 4th Joint Communique, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) noted the three principles of self-reliance, peaceful unification and national unity enshrined in the landmark agreement. KCNA added that the June 2000 Joint Declaration and October 2007 Joint Statement support and champion the spirit of the 1972 Joint Communique.

However, KCNA did not mention the 1991 South-North Basic Agreement to which President Lee Myung-bak attached importance.

The North’s Korean Central Television praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for clearing the way for self-reliant reunification by signing the June 2000 agreement.

The North Korean Web site “Uriminzokkiri” whose name can be roughly translated into “the Korean people on our own” also stressed the link between the Joint Declaration of 2000 and the Joint Communique of 1972.