'North Korean Media First Mention of "Abe's Death" Strongly Condemns Yoon's Condolences to Abe as "Disgusting Behavior"'

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the memorial altar for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, set up at the Public Affairs and Cultural Center of the Embassy of Japan in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 12th of last month, and signed the condolence book. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] North Korea mentioned for the first time the shooting death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinz? and strongly criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol, who expressed condolences for his death, calling it a "disgusting spectacle."

According to Yonhap News on the 21st, the external propaganda outlet Chosun Today said, "As soon as the news of Abe's assassination was received, the Yoon Suk-yeol scoundrel immediately sent a condolence message, praising him as a 'respected politician.'" It also said, "The puppet gang threw disgusting flattery to improve relations with Japan, claiming that Abe worked hard for Northeast Asia."

This is interpreted as a remark targeting President Yoon, who expressed condolences for the death of former Prime Minister Abe. Earlier, on the 12th of last month, President Yoon visited the condolence altar for former Prime Minister Abe set up at the Japanese Embassy's Public Culture Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At that time, President Yoon wrote in the condolence book, "I pray for the repose of former Prime Minister Abe" and "I hope that Korea and Japan, as closest neighbors, will cooperate closely." He also sent a condolence message to Mrs. Akie, Abe's wife, stating, "I express my condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family and the Japanese people who lost the longest-serving and respected prime minister in Japan's constitutional history."

In response, the media called it a "truly disgusting spectacle," and harshly criticized, "No matter how obsessed you are with pro-Japanese treason, can you disgrace the nation by acting as if your grandfather died, making a shameful spectacle over the death of the samurai descendants who committed countless sins against our people for generations and only sharpened the sword of re-invasion?"

Another media outlet, Tongil Sinbo, targeted Foreign Minister Park Jin, who recently held a Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting. In an article titled "Pro-Japanese Lackeys Both Inside and Out," the outlet claimed, "They are acting as if their grandfather died over the sudden death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe, who led the revival of militarism and re-invasion schemes, and are trying to use this as an opportunity to improve relations with the island nation."

Regarding the condolence delegation scheduled to be dispatched to Abe's state funeral, criticism also arose, saying, "They are making a fuss about participating in the condolence ceremony for former Japanese Prime Minister Abe, a symbol of far-right conservatism who has viciously insulted our people."

Meanwhile, the funeral of former Prime Minister Abe, who was shot and killed during a campaign for the House of Councillors election on the 8th of last month, is scheduled to be held as a state funeral on the 27th of next month. Our government plans to dispatch a condolence delegation consisting of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-suk, among others.