North Korea Criticizes Kwon Young-se, Who Visited Panmunjom, as "The Height of an Eyesore"

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se visited Panmunjom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 29th of last month and is seen touring the area. The North Korean Panmungak building is visible in the background.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea unleashed a barrage of criticism on the 5th, referring to Unification Minister Kwon Young-se's visit to Panmunjom.

The external propaganda outlet Uri Minjokki, referring to Minister Kwon's visit to Panmunjom last month, claimed, "(Minister Kwon) looked around here and there with eyes filled with fear that day, reciting words like 'dialogue' and 'sincerity,' while provoking by declaring that North Korea's 'nuclear threat' and 'provocations' would not be tolerated."

It continued, "Later, he dared to bring up our sacred dignity and system, talking about someone's 'regime security,' 'future,' and 'fundamental concerns.' As a mere lapdog of the United States and a colonial puppet, the very act of mentioning anyone's 'security' and 'future' is the height of disgrace," it argued vehemently.

It further stated, "The pitiful appearance of the puppets is that they, terrified before our military might, cling not only to their American masters across the ocean but also to the reactionary Japanese, our thousand-year-old enemy, trying to preserve their sinful lives," threatening, "Anti-Republic confrontation is a path to the grave."

Earlier, Minister Kwon visited Panmunjom for the first time since his inauguration on the 29th of last month. At this occasion, diagnosing the vicious cycle in inter-Korean relations as a 'lack of trust' being the fundamental problem, he emphasized, "Ultimately, the solution to improving inter-Korean relations lies only in steadily restoring broken trust through continuous dialogue."