The U.S. and south Korean warmongers have been busy with joint naval maneuvers around five islands in the West Sea such as Paekryong Island and Yonphyong Island since May 19 with Aegis destroyers belonging to the U.S. Pacific Fleet and destroyer and anti-submarine helicopter of the south Korean Navy, etc. involved. And the forces of the 1st Corps of the south Korean army are mulling staging combat hardware mobile and obstacle laying drills in Koyang, Phaju and other areas in Kyonggi Province, forefront areas, from May 23 to 27.

They announced that they would stage together with U.S. and Japanese forces a combined drill for intercepting ballistic missiles in Hawaii next month allegedly to cope with the threat from the DPRK's missiles.

These are dangerous saber-rattling aimed at chilling the climate of national reconciliation and reunification created by the line and policies for national reunification advanced by the DPRK and harassing peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

The saber-rattling in south Korea is the main factor of stoking mistrust and conflict between the north and the south and disturbing peace on the peninsula from a historical point of view.

The history of the north-south relations proves that whenever anti- DPRK madcap military drills were staged in south Korea, the confrontation between the compatriots in the north and the south was escalated and the situation on the peninsula inched close to the outbreak of a nuclear war.

Last year alone, war exercises staged by the south Korean authorities with foreign forces under various codenames such as Key Resolve, Foal Eagle, Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military drills and Ssangyong Landing Operation pushed the north-south relations to the lowest ebb and repeatedly created such tense situation where a war might break out any moment.

A series of hard-won opportunities of dialogue and the improvement of relations between the north and the south last year were scuppered by the ceaseless saber-rattling staged by the south Korean warmongers with outside forces.

Facts go to clearly prove that no matter what good line and policies reflecting the desire of the nation are laid down, there is nothing to change and it is impossible to put an end to the vicious cycle of escalating tension as long as war drills against the DPRK continue in south Korea.

All Koreans now ardently wish to see a fresh climate for peaceful reunification of the country after the DPRK set forth the reasonable line of national reunification.

Stop to the war drills against the north is the most realistic and important matter to be certainly settled to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula and mend the north-south relations.

In order to defuse the tension on the peninsula, ensure durable peace and improve the bedeviled inter-Korean relations, the south Korean authorities should stop their military provocations aimed at invading the north, to begin with.

They would be well advised to stop their foolish act of pushing the situation on the peninsula to the brink of a war, swimming against the trend of the times and opt for promoting national reconciliation and unity as early as possible.