He met White House National Security Advisor O’Brien, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo and others who were displeased with the "story about discord within the S. Korea-U.S. Alliance" getting worse in recent days in a bid to curry favor with them.

In particular, at a press conference, he made foolish remarks that the relations between the south and the north can not merely be those between the two Koreas and they are those to be settled through discussion and consultation with neighboring countries including the U.S.

We can not but doubt his sanity.

The issue of the inter-Korean relations is not the one to be solved through dependence on outsiders and discussion with foreign countries and with their help as they are an internal matter of the Korean nation to be settled by the north and the south, in the true sense of the word.

A question we'd like to ask him is if he, who is proud of having devoted his all to the improvement of the inter-Korean relations over the past several decades, does not really know that the main key to the settlement of every matter between the north and the south is in independent settlement by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation.

The recent rhetoric which downgraded the sacred north-south relations to be subject to the international relations shows, in essence, the south Korean authorities' wanton denial, perfidy to and an open mockery of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, its practical programme October 4 Declaration, and Panmunjom Declaration and the September Pyongyang Joint Declaration which specified national independence as a fundamental core.

It is a fact well known to the world that the present stalemate in the north-south relations is due to the south Korean authorities' act of leaving its destiny in the care and under the control of the U.S.

However, not coming to their senses, yet, they are beseeching the very one making a mess of the north-south relations for help, a foolish act little short of asking the robber who broke house property to pieces for help.

The rashness with which he once shouted "theory of driver" and "south and north are responsible for the destiny of the Korean peninsula" is nowhere around now and he is only cozying up to his master, in fear of getting cast aside.

No wonder, the world people jeered him as an "American poodle steeped in pro-American consciousness to the marrows of his bones".

From the level of thinking and behavior of the chief of the State Security Office allegedly in charge of the diplomacy and security, it is nothing strange that he was sent away half way through his visit, after getting the cold shoulder and shame and discredit only.

It is said that shame and humiliation are what one invites oneself.

Whoever goes without independent consciousness is bound to be fools running about, not discerning time and place and the direction.

Clear is what future will be met by those staking their fate on sycophancy toward the U.S. and leaving the destiny of the nation at the tender mercy of outsiders.