Minju Joson on Wednesday in a commentary says that these are grave violation of the historic Panmunjom declaration and the "September Pyongyang Joint Declaration" and anti-national crime which can never be justified.

The south Korean military claims that the war drills "have nothing to do with inter-Korean agreements" and "are of defensive nature". Its claim is nothing but a pretext to cover up its sinister intention for confrontation and get rid of public censure at home and abroad, the commentary says, and goes on:

Dialogue and military confrontation, peace and war drills can never go hand in hand.

Genuine peace-keeping mechanism cannot be built on the Korean peninsula and hard-won trend for the improvement of inter-Korean relations can be spoilt if one party stages the war drills against the other dialogue partner after shaking hands for reconciliation at the negotiating table.

The south Korean military authorities should stop the anti-DPRK war drills, clearly aware of the serious consequences to be entailed by the military provocations hostile to the other dialogue partner.