Rodong Sinmun Monday stresses this in a signed article.

Tourism between the north and the south is not a mere one but it is an important patriotic work for reunification to remove the mistrust and confrontation and achieve the reconciliation and cooperation between the two sides, the article says, and goes on:

The matter of resuming tourism should never be used for impure political purposes for confrontation between the north and the south.

The tourism and the issue of the inter-Korean relations are inseparable from each other.

The attitude towards tourism precisely means the position towards the inter-Korean relations. Opposition to tourism is just a denial to the national reconciliation and cooperation and the improvement of the north-south relations.

If the present north-south relations in a peril are to be improved such cooperation and exchanges as tour of Mt. Kumgang should be resumed at an early date and the south Korean authorities should open the tightly closed door.

The south Korean authorities should respond to the negotiations on the resumption of tourism as soon as possible with the stand and will for detente and peace and the national unity.

The present trend of the times is going toward the national unity and independent reunification. Squarely seeing this trend, the south Korean authorities should no longer hinder the realization of national reunification but show sincerity to the issue of resuming the tour.