North Korea has strongly criticized South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, branding him a “confrontation maniac” after his recent speech in the United States.
Lee urged efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, stating that this goal is crucial to securing a permanent peace between the Koreas and would allow the South Korea-US alliance to be upgraded in a “global context”.
However, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) hit out at Lee, saying his speech revealed his “true colours as a hypocrite to the whole world”.
The KCNA commentary, which operates as a mouthpiece for Pyongyang, accused Lee of having an “unveiled confrontational intention” and claimed that his remarks about denuclearization are “a sheer sophism”.
North Korea’s position as a nuclear weapons state is seen as an “inevitable option” that reflects the hostile threat from outside and changes in world security dynamics.
Denuclearization is considered “extinct theoretically, practically and physically”, with Lee’s vision likened to “trying to catch a cloud floating in the sky”.
This latest exchange comes as tensions between North and South Korea remain high. Lee, who took office in June, has pledged to improve relations with Pyongyang after years of strained inter-Korean ties under his conservative predecessor.
However, North Korea has repeatedly rebuffed these efforts. In a scathing statement earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, lambasted South Korea’s efforts at détente, declaring, “We do not care about them and are not interested in them”.
North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are estimated to include around 50 nuclear warheads, with material for dozens more, according to the Arms Control Association.
The country’s nuclear program has been the subject of multiple rounds of US and United Nations sanctions. Given the current tensions, it seems unlikely that North Korea will engage in denuclearization talks anytime soon.
In recent weeks, tensions between North and South Korea have flared over military drills and border incidents.
North Korea has accused South Korean troops of firing warning shots near the border, while South Korea acknowledges that its soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly crossed the border.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas has seen increased tensions, with both sides accusing each other of provocative actions.
The international community remains concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The US has maintained its strong support for South Korea, with President Donald Trump recently meeting with Lee and discussing defense and trade issues. Trump also expressed his willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
However, the prospects for meaningful dialogue between the US and North Korea appear uncertain, given the current tensions and North Korea’s stated position on denuclearization.
The situation highlights the complexities and challenges of international diplomacy, particularly when dealing with nations that have fundamentally different perspectives on security and nuclear disarmament.
As tensions continue to simmer, the international community will be watching closely for any developments that could impact regional stability and global security.