NK condemns S. Korea over passive role in denuke talks

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, speaks to the media as he walks with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un during a break in talks at their historic June 12 U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island. / AFP-Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

North Korea criticized the South Korean government for subordinating itself to the U.S. in lifting sanctions against the North, calling for it to be more cooperative in inter-Korean relations.

Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean external propaganda outlet, released commentary Friday criticizing the South Korean foreign ministry and presidential office for prioritizing South-U.S. relations over inter-Korean relations.

Citing remarks made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in early December that (the South) should get understanding and support from the international community in seeking denuclearization of the North and peace on the Korean Peninsula, the North criticized the South's attitude to push for inter-Korean projects under the sanctions against the North.

“It is stupid self-praise to say this year's drastic changes in relations between the North and the South as well as the North and the U.S. were achieved by the South-U.S. cooperation or the South Korean foreign ministry's efforts as it doesn't clarify its reason, motivation and outcomes for improvement in politics,” Uriminzokkiri said in its commentary.

It also criticized Cheong Wa Dae for saying “the changes on the Korean Peninsula were achieved as we took the lead.”

North Korea's criticism came after Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, visited the South Thursday to coordinate the two allies in negotiations with North Korea amid stalled denuclearization talks between the North and U.S. since the Singapore summit in June.

North Korea and the U.S. have softened their tones against each other recently, but failed to come up with details for holding a second summit between their leaders. Pyongyang continues to want the removal of international sanctions while the United States wants full denuclearization first.

The North's statement is likely to urge the South to focus on discussing lifting sanctions as well as stressing its conditions in negotiations with the U.S. The North released a comment Thursday to stress its determination not to relinquish its nuclear weapons until the U.S removes its nuclear umbrella from the peninsula.

“The U.S. must now recognize the accurate meaning of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and especially, must study geography,” the Korean Central News Agency, a North Korea state-run media outlet, said in a statement released Thursday.

“When we talk about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it means the removal of all nuclear threats, not only from the South and North but also from areas neighboring the peninsula.”