The chief executive of south Korea at talks and news conference pulled up the DPRK, uttering that "the north must completely dismantle its nukes," "its show of a responsible attitude toward the 'Cheonan' case would be a starting point of the process to improve the inter-Korean relations" and "the north's insistence on its stand would only bring bigger damage to it." He made no scruple of making such arrogant remarks that "only the south-north summit for achieving denuclearization is possible," talking nonsense that the inter-Korean relations are now on a normal track and the improvement of the relations is just a temporary expedient.

Meanwhile, Minister of Unification Hyon In Thaek, addressing a meeting of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification of the "National Assembly," claimed that the north has not taken a switchover in its stand on the essential issues of the south-north relations, talking about "a drastic change in attitude" and "healthy and normal south-north relations".

This is a challenge to all the Koreans and public opinion at home and abroad as it chills their desire for improved relations between the north and the south and peace and an intolerable mockery and provocation against the DPRK sincere efforts, the statement said, and went on:

A scrutiny into the above-said reckless remarks of the south Korean chief executive and his confidant suggests that they are no more than a declaration made internally and externally that they have not an iota of intention to mend the inter-Korean relations and they are set to persist in the moves to escalate the confrontation with the DPRK.

If the south Korean authorities worry about the nuclear deterrent of the DPRK so much, why do they oppose the six-party talks for settling the issue of denuclearization and if the warship case was not a plot, why did they refuse to receive the inspection group of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the statement queried.

It went on:

Their sophism that the inter-Korean relations are now on a normal track clearly shows what they meant by "healthy and normal inter-Korean relations."

What they uttered is intolerable as it revealed once again their sinister intention to stand in confrontation with the DPRK to the last.

The anti-reunification elements should know that confrontation will get them nowhere.

They are so pitiful as to make a silly talk about "change" of somebody, obsessed by a foolish dream, unaware of how the situation has changed and in what direction the trend of the times is heading.

It is none other than the south Korean authorities who should make a switchover.

The south Korean authorities should awake from a foolish dream of doing harm to the fellow countrymen through confrontation, backed by outside forces, and come out for dialogue and cooperation as early as possible. Otherwise, they will face bitterer curse and denunciation from the public at home and abroad.

The DPRK will closely follow the attitude of the south Korean authorities.