Pyongyang, September 3 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA Saturday as regards the replacement of the Unification minister in south Korea:

Thrice-cursed traitor Hyon In Thaek who had been unanimously denounced by the south Koreans from all walks of life was dismissed from the ministerial post.

This was a judgment by the public demanding a switchover in south Korea's policy for confrontation with the DPRK and the improvement of the north-south relations and the public opinion at home and abroad as he spearheaded confrontation with fellow countrymen and anti-reunification acts.

This also meant the failure of the south Korean authorities' policy of confrontation.

Hyon faced shameful dismissal, rejected by not only by south Koreans and the ruling party but by opposition parties as he has run reckless to escalate confrontation against reunification.

This is a deserved end of a man who swam against the tide of the times, with his back turned on the nation.

Indelible are crimes he has committed to deteriorate the north-south relations.

It is shocking that the inter-Korean relations vital to the nation had been cruelly trampled down by such hideous anti-reunification element as Hyon.

The monstrous crimes committed by Hyon can never be glossed over by his mere ouster from the post of Unification minister. He will have to pay for his crimes and will always be cursed.

It is fortunate that the Unification minister was replaced, though belatedly. But he was appointed as special aide to the "president" for unification policy, a mockery of the south Koreans and the public.

This leaves us skeptical as to the south Korean authorities' willingness to make a switchover in their confrontation policy and improve the north-south relations.

The recent replacement of the minister should not be just a stop-gap measure to deceive the public and tide over the crisis.

The south Korean authorities should clearly understand that they can get nothing as long as they turn their faces away from the north-south relations. They had better face up to the trend of the times and roll back their policy for confrontation with fellow countrymen.

We, together with all other Koreans, will closely watch the future behavior of the south Korean authorities.