SEOUL, August 12 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent harsh tirade against South Korea is a deliberate attempt to shift the focus of flood-damaged people away from their devastated situation, the Ministry of Unification here suggests.
During an inspection of flood-hit areas in North Pyongan Province, Kim labeled South Korea a "trash country" and accused its media of spreading "malicious propaganda."
According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim specially took issue with South Korean media reports claiming over 1,500 deaths in the flood-ravaged Amnok River region.
While North Korea usually criticizes Seoul through state media, this marks the first time Kim has publicly used such inflammatory language.
Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said, "It appears that North Korea is attempting to divert public attention by shifting blame externally, especially in an emergency situation that requires the mobilization of all societal resources due to large-scale flood damage."
