This is another provocation to the DPRK as it has created a stumbling block in the way of developing the north-south relations at present when the second round of the north-south high-level contact is high on the agenda.

The north and the south had already agreed to hold the second round of high-level contact.

This kind of dialogue, however, can be possible only when the peaceful atmosphere is created through the stop to those acts of provoking and attacking the dialogue partner.

This is a common usage not only in peace time but at wartime.

Koreans have lived generation after generation in the eastern country of good manners. It is, therefore, something unimaginable to negotiate with discourteous guys. The DPRK has exerted positive efforts for the improvement of the north-south relations essential for accomplishing the cause of Korea's reunification, the cherished desire of the Koreans.

The recent visit to Inchon by the director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army and his party greatly contributed to creating favorable atmosphere of improving the north-south ties.

Before the agreement was made on the second round of high-level contact, the DPRK side proposed emergency contacts several times and also made a reasonable proposal for preventing military conflicts between the two sides in order to prevent the relations from getting worse.

But the south Korean authorities totally turned down all those proposals under the pretexts of "difference in understanding" and persistently maintained the previous self-justified stand as regards the issue of hotspot waters in the West Sea of Korea, a hotbed of military conflicts.

Not content with raising the worn-out "Cheonan" warship case and Yonphyong Island shelling, they let loose provocative remarks that they could not stop by law the leaflet scattering operations aimed at hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership and the social system in the DPRK.

Worse still, the representative of the "Saenuri Party", right after the Inchon meeting, blustered that "death of soldiers of the south Korean army and a south Korean national who lost her life during the tour of Mt. Kumgang should not be forgotten and this issue should be settled before having dialogue", thus chilling the nation's enthusiasm for reconciliation.

The minister of "Unification" also ballyhooed that "it is difficult to lift 'May 24 step' without the north's responsible measures", adding the "north should show sincerity first".

The chief executive of south Korea made such provocative remarks against the DPRK as "double-dealing attitude of provocation and appeasement" and "abandonment of nuclear development".

The situation proves that the south Korean authorities still harbor an ambition for confrontation despite their lip-service to dialogue.

It is hard to expect good results of dialogue under the present situation.

The south Korean authorities would be well advised to have proper attitude and stand on dialogue, to begin with, if they wish to negotiate.