Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Distrust and confrontation are bound to escalate while war exercises are under way and they can never help improve the inter-Korean relations.

Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a bylined article.

The south Korean authorities' racket for military confrontation is a revelation of their extreme mistrust and hostility toward fellow countrymen, the article notes, and goes on:

Confrontation is bound to disturb peace on the Korean Peninsula and lead the inter-Korean relations to catastrophe. This is the lesson taught by what happened in the last three and half years.

Persistent provocations in south Korea such as Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises would only give impetus to evil cycle of distrust and confrontation between the north and the south. No one can vouch that these maneuvers would not lead to a war.

War exercises can never go with peace.

It is only traitors to the country and nation that head for confrontation and war.

It is a great miscalculation for them to think that in case of a war on the peninsula south Korea would be safe.

Military standoff will never be a way out for them. Confrontation and war are bound to bring the warmongers to an end.