The army and people of the DPRK earnestly called on the south Korean authorities to tide over the prevailing difficult situation and open up a path to improving the relations through the publication of the joint statement of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations and the proposal to hold the talks between military authorities of the north and the south, pursuant to the new line and policy for national reunification set forth at the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

But the first answer given by the south Korean authorities to it was far-fetched assertions such as "denuclearization first and dialogue next", "propaganda offensive devoid of sincerity" and politically-motivated vicious provocation and the first practical response made by it was reckless firing with the mobilization of military gangsters.

Even at this moment the south Korean authorities are reacting to the DPRK's just call for rejecting foreign forces and pooling efforts in the idea of By Our Nation Itself with shameful servile attitude towards the U.S. and sordid racket for confrontation with the fellow countrymen. They are misleading the public opinion while challenging the broadminded proposal made by the DPRK with intolerable provocations and vicious vituperations against the dialogue partner.

Denouncing this as an unpardonable mockery of the patriotic measure taken by the DPRK and a vicious challenge to the desire and wish of all the fellow countrymen, the statement clarified the following principled stand:

1. If the south Korean authorities act without discretion, far from clearly studying the deep meaning of the patriotic appeal and proposal made by the DPRK and making responsible option, our response to it will be the toughest offensive aimed to push them deeper into the abyss and lead them faster to self-destruction.

We already warned the south Korean authorities that if they join hands with the DPRK with an intent to solve the reunification issue first, they can be our partner but if they turn their back on us, the result will be miserable.

We would like to stress that this warning is by no means an empty talk.

2. If the south Korean authorities respond to our just proposal for defusing tension and ensuring peace on the Korean peninsula with reckless military action, our response to them will be merciless physical option.

We will settle accounts by force only with those who find their way out only in confrontation with the fellow countrymen and war, indifferent to the improvement of the north-south relations and peace on the Korean peninsula. This is our stand.

We have already clarified that we are ready both for a peaceful way and for non-peaceful way in which all the bases of evils will be blown up in a moment in order to achieve the reunification of the country.

The south Korean authorities should clearly be aware that the physical reaction by non-peaceful way will bring us great victory in the war for reunification but miserable defeat to them.

3. Those who ceaselessly spout out provocative invectives against the DPRK will not be able to evade miserable fate, being branded as confrontation maniacs and traitors to the nation.

They should bear in mind once again the meaningful advice and serious warning served by the DPRK that evil words already made can not be recollected and the tongue used for making those words will turn into a dagger cutting off one's own neck.

All the Koreans and the international community are closely following the attitude of the south Korean authorities while hoping for the improvement of the relations and for the advent of detente on the Korean peninsula.

The south Korean authorities should not forget that if they persist in frantic confrontation with the fellow countrymen while going against the desire and wish of the nation and the trend of the times, they will not be able to evade the stern punishment by the times and history.