[The Chosun Ilbo, February 26 2008] Pyongyang Media Stresses National Unity

On the day of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s inauguration, the organ of the Central Committee of the North Korean Workers’ Party offered only a veiled reference to the event. "We can advance independent unification and peaceful prosperity only when we achieve grand unity of the entire nation based on the principle of national self-reliance,” the Rodong Shinmun wrote. North Korea has yet to report Lee's election, more than two months since election day.

In an editorial headed "Our own nation should uphold the banner of independent unification," the daily said, “Our nation is a spiritual weapon to achieve self-reliant unification and peaceful prosperity." It added, "The cooperation of the entire Korean nation for unification is the only legitimate way to achieve peace, wealth and prosperity for the nation."