The ruling and opposition parties spewed stringent criticism Friday after a news report emerged that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called Korea “stupid.”

The Shukan Bunshun, a Japanese major weekly, on Thursday cited unnamed sources close to Abe as saying that the nationalist premier told them China is a country that is silly but diplomacy is possible with, whereas Korea is a “simple and stupid” one.

A Seoul official told The Korea Herald that the report “can’t be true” and the Foreign Ministry is looking into how the report came out.

“Should Abe and his confidants continue to denigrate our government and a major weekly write nonsense, Korea-Japan relations will face numerous difficulties in the future,” said Hong Moon-jong, secretary-general of the governing Saenuri Party, in a meeting with lawmakers.

Jun Byung-hun, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, urged the Seoul government to verify the report and come up with a “strong and stern” response if it is true.

“The specter of Japan’s militarism has gone beyond bounds,” Jun said at a meeting with senior party members, calling the report a “provocation.”

“The government must respond strongly and sternly to the thoughtless remarks by Abe who is devoured by the specter of militarism.”

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)