NORTH KOREA has denounced the idea of peaceful reunification with the South as the “daydream of a psychopath”.
The typically forthright statement was Pyongyang’s first reaction to a speech made last month by South Korean President Park Geun-Hye in which she called on the North to increase cultural and economic exchanges with Seoul and step up reunions of families divided by the separation of Korea.
Speaking in Dresden in the former East Germany, Park said: "Germany's unity is for us an example and model for a peaceful reunification.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
North Korea’s powerful National Defence Commission took exception to the comparison, however. Today, an NDC spokesman observed that German reunification came about with the West absorbing the East and accused Park of begging foreign countries to help South Korea absorb the North, AFP reports.
"This is merely a daydream of psychopath," he said, adding that Park’s speech was "nonsense" and full of "hypocrisy and deception".
"The fact that in that particular place, Park Geun-Hye lashed her tongue about reunification gave away her sinister mind.
"They should bear in mind that the tongue-lashing of Park Geun-Hye is the root cause of deteriorating North-South relations and beclouding the prospect of the nation.
"It is the unanimous view of the public that the North-South relations will be smoother than now only if Park keeps her disgusting mouth closed," the spokesman said.
The uncompromising language follows a month of tension on the Korean peninsula, with the North warning that it might carry out new nuclear tests and both countries exchanging artillery fire.
Despite this, analysts expect Pyongyang to return to dialogue over its nuclear capability later this month when joint military exercises between the South and the United States finish.
-
Nepal chooses toddler as its new ‘living goddess’Under the Radar Girls between two and four are typically chosen to live inside the temple as the Kumari – until puberty strikes
-
October 5 editorial cartoonsCartoons Sunday's political cartoons include half-truth hucksters, Capitol lockdown, and more
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailoutTalking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Kim Ju Ae: North Korea’s next leader?The Explainer Kim Jong Un’s young daughter is being seen as his ‘recognised heir’ following a high-profile public appearance at China summit
-
'Axis of upheaval': will China summit cement new world order?Today's Big Question Xi calls on anti-US alliance to cooperate in new China-led global system – but fault lines remain
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Wonsan-Kalma: North Korea's new 'mammoth' beach resortUnder the Radar Pyongyang wants to boost tourism but there won't be many foreign visitors to Kim Jong Un's 'pet project'
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
