Years of tensions and confrontation have been defused and atmosphere for reconciliation and cooperation has been created in the direction of achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula in recent days thanks to the initiative measures taken by the DPRK.

Typical examples are the sincere efforts made by it to save the Kaesong Industrial Zone from the danger of total shutdown and bring the operations in the zone to normal and to solve from a broad stand such issues as the reunions of families and relatives separated from the last Korean War and resumption of the Mt. Kumgang tourism project. The separation is symbolic of tragic national division.

It is the fixed stand and will of the army and people of the DPRK to realize at any cost whatever is required by the times and desired by the fellow countrymen.

These are prompted by the firm policy to perfectly carry forward the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration for its implementation, precious fruitions of the devotions and painstaking efforts made by General Secretary Kim Jong Il and heritages bequeathed down by him out of his patriotic will for reunification, and thus pave the wide avenue for national reunification and peace and prosperity.

Unfortunately, however, the atmosphere for reconciliation hardly in the making has faced a serious challenge from the beginning due to the improper attitude taken by the U.S. and the south Korean authorities who are still seized by the old confrontational concept.

The present chief executives of the U.S. and south Korea are loudly speaking about ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and building reconciliation and confidence between the north and the south. But in fact, they directly choreographed dangerous war racket and confrontation moves, quite contrary to their call. This is a stark reality today.

They started on August 19 the DPRK-targeted Ulji Freedom Guardian war exercises as before under the pretext of "annual" exercises. In mid-August they started the operation of scattering leaflets slandering the DPRK with the use of human scum.

We can not but question if it is the U.S.-style way of "improving ties" and south Korean-style way of "building confidence" to level guns at the dialogue partner and to respond to the magnanimous and peaceful step with war drills and sinister psychological warfare.

It is well known by the world that the U.S. and the south Korean authorities cried out for the DPRK's "dismantlement of nuclear weapons" more loudly than any others.

During the recent war exercises they flied formations and flying corps of B-52H nuclear strategic bombers from Guam and the U.S. mainland to the sky above the Korean Peninsula round the clock, openly posing nuclear threat to the DPRK.

If the U.S. truly wants denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it should stop the nuclear blackmail against the DPRK. The present rulers of south Korea should drop the double-dealing attitude of tolerating outsider's nuke while denying the nation's nuke.

It is important for the south Korean authorities to stop vitriolic rhetoric against the DPRK and clear themselves of discord, antagonism, distrust and hostility, to begin with, if they do not want to see the north-south ties repeating the bitter history of the past five years.

The present rulers of south Korea, without deep knowledge about war and military affairs, are taking the lead in inciting confrontation and escalating tensions while touring what they called wartime commanding posts and field command posts, being lost to reason. They will only face shameless fate, being marginalized by the public.

They are calling a small agreement that was reached with much difficulty a "victory of principle" and making a mockery of the public, being guided by its own unilateral yardstick called "common sense and international norms". This will only cast shadow to hard-won atmosphere for dialogue.

The army and people of the DPRK will neither give up nor make even a step backward in the road for ensuring peace and security of the country and building a powerful and prosperous country.

The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK equipped with powerful striking means have followed with vigilance not only the whole process of the war exercises but all the movements of the flying corps of nuclear strategic bombers, with their guns aimed at them, being considerate of the nation's desire and wishes.

We are seriously examining issues for planning and realizing several constructive and bold peaceful measures while still exercising utmost patience for genuine peace and detente on the Korean Peninsula.

Time has come to drop for good the hostile concept and the policy for confrontation with the fellow countrymen, leftovers of the Cold War era.

Now is the time to stop anachronistic act of targeting the dialogue partner and take political decisions favorable for creating atmosphere for dialogue and peaceful environment.

This is the demand of the times and the people.

The U.S. and the south Korean authorities should clearly face up to the trend of the times and think twice.

They should remember that there is limit to the magnanimity and patience of the DPRK.

The army and people of the DPRK will closely follow with high vigilance every movement of the present chief executives of the U.S. and south Korea.