N.K. condemns Park's address calling on Pyongyang to give up nukes

North Korea on Wednesday condemned President Park Geun-hye's latest speech calling for Pyongyang to end its nuclear and missile programs, saying that she is to blame for worsening inter-Korean ties.

On Monday, Park gave a speech to mark the 71st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

In her address, Park urged North Korea to immediately end its nuclear and missile programs while defending Seoul's planned deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system on its soil as a "self-defense" measure against the North's evolving threats.

A spokesman at North Korea's committee on inter-Korean relations said that Park's address was full of "imprudent" remarks for covering up what the North called Park's crimes in driving the inter-Korean relations into a "catastrophe."

North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification said that Park, desperate to put pressure on North Korea, took issue with Pyongyang over its nuclear deterrent while seeking to hide crimes committed by her government.

"Traitor Park should bear in mind that her desperate moves to escape ruin through awful tongue-lashing and reckless confrontation will only precipitate the miserable end of her fate, cursed and censured by all Koreans," the spokesman said in a statement.

South Korea's unification ministry lashed out at North Korea for insulting Park, calling on Pyongyang to immediately stop such actions.

"The government strongly condemns North Korea for slandering Park with a vulgar expression," Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing. "North Korea should first face up to the reality that the international community denounces Pyongyang's nuclear and missile provocations."

Inter-Korean ties have further deteriorated since North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket in the following month.

So far this year, the North has fired off numerous ballistic missiles, including six intermediate-range Musudan missiles, which can theoretically fly as far as the U.S. territory of Guam.

Since Seoul and Washington agreed in July to place a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery on the mountainous southern county of Seongju, North Korea has vowed to take unspecific "counteractions" against the move.

Analysts said that North Korea is likely to make another provocation ahead of joint annual military drills between Seoul and Washington slated for late this month. (Yonhap)