North Korea blasts Donald Trump's South Korea remarks

SEOUL, July 29 (UPI) -- Donald Trump's scathing remarks about U.S. defense spending in South Korea have reached Pyongyang, and North Korea is taking Trump's comments as an opportunity to blast both Seoul and Washington.

In an editorial published in North Korea's state newspaper on Wednesday, Pyongyang spotlighted the U.S. presidential race and introduced Trump to readers as a "no-name U.S. politician," South Korean outlet Newsis reported.

"Not too long ago one candidate from the U.S. Republican Party has raised his voice, claiming the U.S. is protecting South Korea for free," Pyongyang said.

"The person who made the problematic declaration is a no-name U.S. politician, but from the South Korea puppets' viewpoint, it is [unacceptable behavior]," the editorial stated.

The article went on to say the South Korean people's "precious money has been squeezed out" in defense contributions that serve their "U.S. masters."

"Like a hunchback with a crooked back, the South Korean puppet regime cannot stand straight," North Korea said.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Seoul has long shared the cost of stationing U.S. forces and in 2014 Seoul and Washington agreed to renew the Special Measures Agreement, with Seoul paying $886 million in costs in 2014, up 5.8 percent from 2013.

Trump had mentioned South Korea last week during a campaign speech in South Carolina, when he claimed South Korea was a nation similar to Saudi Arabia that benefits from U.S. taxpayers while giving "nothing" back.

"I like the Saudis...They buy all sorts of my stuff, all kinds of toys from Trump. They pay me millions and hundreds of millions. But you know what? They make a billion dollars a day, folks, and whenever they're in trouble, our military takes care. You know we get nothing," Trump said.

"South Korea," he said before a member of the audience apparently shouted, "Crazy."

In 2011, Trump had said the U.S. protects South Korea, but "they don't pay us."

Pyongyang said South Korea continues to "suffer from humiliation and shame from the world," and that "arrogant U.S. politicians are cornering" the country.

"The U.S. occupation of South Korea has led to incalculable damage and disaster for the South Korean people and has prevented unification. There must be reparations," North Korea said.

Trump's real estate business portfolio includes six condominium properties in Seoul that according to the Trump website blends with the "exotic, urban lifestyle of South Korea into every opulent detail."