Rodong Sinmun Saturday observes in a signed commentary carried in this regard:

What he uttered cannot be construed otherwise than an extremely dangerous provocation. Openly asserting a military strike at the other side in any case is an intolerable rash act.

He seemed to have the view that anyone who wishes to become a minister of Defense should maintain such degree of anti-DPRK stand and belligerence. It is the height of an anachronistic viewpoint.

Already at the time when Kim held the post of chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in the early period of "the pragmatic government" he, speaking at the NA, let loose outbursts calling for mounting a "preemptive attack" on the DPRK, deteriorating all of a sudden the north-south relations which had favorably developed. The above-said call made by Kim for a military strike at the DPRK goes to prove that the idea of north-south confrontation is still prevalent in the ruling quarters of south Korea.

Such rash behavior should not be tolerated any longer as long as the confrontational maniacs go reckless, unaware of how things are going in the world, and thus make a mess of important affairs of the nation.

The north-south relations should not be allowed to be reduced to a plaything of a tiny handful of confrontational elements.

An opportunity does not come always.

The south Korean conservative forces would be well advised to stand to reason and face up to the reality and drop their obstinate policy of standing in confrontation with fellow countrymen in collusion with foreign forces.