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North Korea: South Korea's Moon Jae-in a 'failure'

By Elizabeth Shim
North Korea accused South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) of “pro-American toadyism” on Friday. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI
North Korea accused South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) of “pro-American toadyism” on Friday. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 18 (UPI) -- North Korea described the South Korean administration of President Moon Jae-in as a "failure" and said economic sanctions are not compatible with calls for dialogue.

Moon, a progressive leader who has at times called for a conciliatory approach to relations with the North, may be being targeted by Pyongyang for his decision to support policy that began under former President Park Geun-hye.

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Moon has not only supported the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system THAAD on the peninsula, but has strongly condemned North Korea's missile provocations while defending joint drills with the United States.

Pyongyang's Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun lambasted Moon in a rare editorial that not only described Moon's North Korea policy as a failure but also accused the South Korean leader of betraying a unitary Korean people.

Describing the "catastrophic reality" of "pro-American toadyism" of the South Korean government, the Rodong expressed disappointment with the first three months of Moon's administration.

"After 100 days in power, the character report is shabby, nothing could be more disappointing," North Korea stated. "In particular, North-South relations have failed."

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"Only in words do they talk about carrying out the North-South Joint Declaration, but in actions they implement the exact opposite," the North Korean statement read. "They cannot cast off the yoke of dependence on foreign powers, and are pulled along by the chain of subordination to the United States."

"The South Korean regime's anti-people stratagem was clearly revealed in its call to North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons," the editorial stated. "The nuclear program arose owing to the nuclear threat of the United States, and is an issue to be resolved between North Korea and the United States."

"The South Korean authorities are not qualified to intervene."

North Korea also stated calls for dialogue ring hollow in the face of sanctions, and peace and stability would only prevail when the "United States ends its policy of North Korea invasion."

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