They are creating impression that they are interested in mending the north-south relations and settling humanitarian issues, prattling "the ball is in the north's court."

Rodong Sinmun Tuesday observes in a bylined commentary in this regard:

The south Korean authorities' proposed "reunion of separated families" is nothing but a mean burlesque disclosing the ulterior intention of those who feel guilty.

The commentary goes on:

The Lee Myung Bak group is wholly to blame for having failed to properly arrange the reunions of separated families and relatives so far as it drove the north-south relations to catastrophe by escalating confrontation with fellow countrymen and disallowed any dialogue and cooperation.

Lurking behind the proposed reunion are sinister aims.

It is aimed at hiding the traitorous nature of its "policy toward the north", which resulted in the collapse of the north-south relations, and escaping the public criticism of its moves to escalate the confrontation with the DPRK.

The south Korean conservative authorities are now in the grip of a serious ruling crisis, strongly censured and condemned by the public for the total failure of their policy of confrontation.

The conservative group finds itself on pins and needles as it feels uneasy that if things go on like this, it can be beaten in the upcoming "parliamentary" election.

That is why the group is kicking up such fuss, proposing the working contact in a bid to win public mind-set.

No wonder, people of different social standings in south Korea are chiding the authorities for pretending to be concerned for the reunion.