North Korea criticizes South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as a "confrontation maniac"

North Korea has called South Korean President Lee Jae-myung a "confrontation maniac," following his speech in the United States where he called for efforts to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In a statement after meeting with U.S. President Trump, Lee Jae-myung said that denuclearization is crucial for ensuring permanent peace between North and South Korea, and would elevate the South Korea-U.S. alliance "in a global context."

On Wednesday, North Korean state media KCNA criticized the South Korean leader, stating that his speech "exposed his true face as a hypocrite to the world."

"His actions abroad clearly prove that the intention of South Korea to confront North Korea will never change," said KCNA in an unsigned commentary.

"At the same time, Lee Jae-myung's openly confrontational intentions provide irrefutable evidence that his statements about 'denuclearization' are nothing but sophistry," said KCNA.

"With this opportunity, we once again remind him that our position as a nuclear-armed country is an inevitable choice, which correctly reflects external hostile threats and changes in the world security landscape."

KCNA also stated that denuclearization has been "extinct in theory, practice, and physically," and called Lee Jae-myung's vision "a naive dream akin to trying to grasp floating clouds in the sky."

Lee Jae-myung took office in June this year and pledged to improve relations with Pyongyang, following years of tension under his conservative predecessor, former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.

However, these efforts have repeatedly been rejected by North Korea. Earlier this month, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, harshly criticized South Korea's efforts to ease tensions and said, "We don't care and aren't interested."

According to the Arms Control Association, North Korea, which has been subjected to multiple rounds of sanctions from the United States and the United Nations due to its weapons programs, has manufactured approximately 50 nuclear warheads and possesses nuclear materials capable of producing dozens more.

Source: Al Jazeera

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841668636611594/

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