Rodong Sinmun Saturday observes this in a signed article.

It goes on:

Dialogue and cooperation would help the north and the south bring down a wall between them, remove the distrust and misunderstanding and achieve reconciliation and unity.

Fundamental in the north-south dialogue is the one between the authorities with effective power and responsibility. This dialogue would lead to the improved relations.

The dialogue is the urgent demand of the Koreans and the solemn call of the nation's history.

The history of Korea's division that lasted more than six decades shows that confrontation leads to division and national ruin while unity to reunification and prosperity.

The way for the north and the south to respond to the nation's desire and the call of the times is to hold the dialogue between the authorities at an early date.

The dialogue also serves as a realistic way for tiding over the current crisis.

Denying the dialogue is not a stand and an attitude to take responsibility for the nation's destiny. The authorities should take upon themselves the responsibility for the present grave situation.

Now is the time to pave the way of the nation by making progress in the north-south relations through dialogue and negotiations, not confrontation.

If the authorities of south Korea are concerned for the Korean's destiny and interested in the north-south relations, they should come out for the dialogue and negotiations.

They had better discharge their mission as those responsible for opening a rosy way for independent reunification and peace and prosperity, letting bygones be bygones.

There is no doubt that good results would surely come if the pending issues between the north and the south are discussed at the authorities' talks.