Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- Hyon In Thaek was busy making a wordplay about "spirit of era" and "genuine unification" at his resignation ceremony on Sept. 19. Not content with this, he bragged that the period of his office was "exciting days" and "an era of change" in the north-south relations.

Minju Joson Tuesday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:

Hyon was ousted from his office, judged by the people for running wild with confrontation with fellow countrymen. He, however, made poor excuses in a bid to justify his crimes. This was an intolerable mockery and insult to the nation.

Hyon should have apologized to the nation for what he has done but he was so ridiculous as to talk about "spirit of the era" and "genuine unification". By bringing about the so-called exciting events and changes quite contrary to the will of the nation he drove the inter-Korean relations to a collapse. He is a traitor to the nation putting the five traitors of 1905 into the shade.

The history of the Ministry of Unification in south Korea witnessed the replacement of many ministers. But there has been no such guy as Hyon who drove the inter-Korean relations to catastrophe and so shamelessly embellished his crimes.

What he uttered was nothing but his "earnest request" made to his successor and other mandarins of the ministry to keep to the road of anti-reunification and confrontation just as he did. This is the reason why the rigmaroles let loose by Hyon, a dying politician, should not be overlooked.

In the final analysis, he added to his unpardonable crimes committed against the nation. He took the lead in shaping ill-famed anti-reunification policies of confrontation and pressing them forward, seriously bedeviling the inter-Korean relations. Not content with this, he urged his successor and his minions to escalate the confrontation with fellow countrymen. The nation will always keep tabs on his crimes.

Hyon's successor should draw a due lesson from his miserable end and roll back the confrontation policy going against the mindset of the people. Otherwise, the inter-Korean relations will never improve and he will not escape the same fate as Hyon's.