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

This was a deliberate saber-rattling to escalate the tension on the Korean Peninsula and keep the north-south relations extremely hostile.

Lee has been hell-bent on confrontation with fellow countrymen and moves for a war during five years of his office. He is getting evermore reckless with the approach of his end.

In October last, too, he appeared on Yonphyong Island and made war drumbeat egging his warmongers onto military provocations, calling for a thousand-fold retaliation. He was busy inspecting the forefront area even at the end of the year to incite confrontation.

At the instruction of Lee the south Korean military issued the "2012 white paper on defense" recently, terming the government and army of the DPRK as its "enemy" and defining the "northern limit line" as "a substantial maritime boundary line" and "waters under the control of south Korea".

While straining the situation to the phase of crisis through ceaseless military exercises, the Lee group seeks to ignite a war against the DPRK once an opportunity presents itself. With no rhetoric can it cover up this bellicose scenario.

Minju Joson in its bylined commentary says that with no frenzy can the Lee group escape the miserable fate already sealed.

Only a stern punishment by history awaits the traitors going against the mindset of the people, it warns.