Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in a signed article.

The present era is the era of national independence and unity in which the Koreans are working hard to achieve national reunification and prosperity under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration and October 4 declaration, the article notes, and goes on:

However, the Lee group of south Korea is desperately swimming against the trend of the times toward independent reunification, peace and prosperity.

The group's above-said reckless moves for confrontation are bringing the inter-Korean relations back to those in the past era of confrontation and throwing manifold difficulties and obstacles in the Koreans' way of achieving reunification.

But, nothing can arrest the cause of independent reunification, peace and prosperity as it is just and the trend of the times.

It is the undeniable truth that the popular masses' struggle to carve out their independent destiny is sure to make steady progress, despite temporary turns and twist and difficulties.

All the Koreans aspire after reunification and call for national reconciliation and unity as they have undergone the tragedy of national division imposed upon them by foreign forces for over half a century.

Nothing is graver than perpetuating the national split and escalating inter-Korean confrontation, quelling the people's desire for reunification in the present times.

No fascist dictator in south Korea could dampen the south Koreans' growing will and desire for national independence and reunification.

The present ruling crisis of the Lee regime is entirely attributable to the treacherous crimes it has committed by challenging the desire of the people, opposed to the independence and reunification of the nation.

The Lee group will be forced to pay a dear price for its anachronistic and treacherous racket of confrontation with the north.