The DPRK has taken a series of practical and patriotic measures to improve the north-south ties, the statement said, and went on:

But the south Korean authorities, far from responding to this, dare slander the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK and its social system. At the time when the north and the south were reaching an agreement on the reunion of war-torn families and relatives, the south Korean authorities went such provocative as introducing U.S. strategic nuclear bombers into south Korea for nuclear war drills.

The Central Association strongly demands the south Korean authorities immediately stop the provocations.

The south Korean authorities have vociferated about "sincerity" whenever the DPRK made proposals for improving the north-south ties. They should clarify that by "sincerity" they mean their resorting to confrontational policy while continuing to slander the dialogue partner.

They should also clarify whether the reunion of separated families and relatives is really prompted by the intention to relieve them of their misfortunes and pain even a bit or whether they seek to use it as a bargaining chip for meeting their political greed to remain in office long by winning popularity ahead of the upcoming June elections to the local self-governing bodies.

We, Koreans, will as ever make all efforts for peace on the Korean peninsula and the improvement of the north-south relations.