They included the Solidarity for Progress, Confederation of Trade Unions, People for Achieving Peace and Reunification and the Way to Reunification.

A press release was read out at the conference.

The release said the authorities announced that they would kick off a drill for naval interception from Oct. 26 to 27 in waters off Pusan together with forces of the U.S. and Japan as main part of the PSI exercises.

The drill would reportedly involve huge attack forces including Aegis destroyers, patrol ships, patrol planes and other type planes and gunboats, the release said, adding:

Given that the drill would be staged with military attack on ships of a sovereign state in view, it is a violation of international law.

The drill that does not rule out the seizure of ships through bombardment and air raids, in particular, its nature as a maneuver for preemptive attack is becoming more evident.

In the light of the fact that the present authorities emphasized "measures to put the screws on the north" when deciding their full involvement in the PSI exercises and kicking off PSI-related drills, the planned drill is obviously targeted against the north.

The present regime plans to let even warships and planes of the Japan "Self-Defense Forces" participate in the drill will back Japan's revival of militarism and step up the creation of a triangular military alliance.

The Lee Myung Bak regime deserves condemnation as it makes no scruple of inviting even the nation's sworn enemy to take part in the drill against fellow countrymen.