South Korea on Thursday lashed out at North Korea for criticizing Seoul's move to deploy an advanced U.S. missile defense system, saying that Pyongyang is trying to drive a wedge among its citizens over the issue.

North Korea's committee handling inter-Korean affairs said Wednesday that if the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is deployed in South Korea, the country will become the stage for nuclear confrontation by regional powers.

Seoul's unification ministry said that North Korea should be blamed for posing a threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

"The government's decision to station a THAAD battery here was made to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats as a self-defense measure to defend people's lives and national security," the ministry said.

The North has ceaselessly developed its nuclear and missile programs by launching more than 30 ballistic missiles so far this year. On Wednesday, North Korea fired off two Rodong mid-range ballistic missiles with one of them presumed to have landed in waters controlled by Japan.

"North Korea should realize that its slander and sophistry cannot justify its nuclear development and drive a wedge among South Koreans," the ministry said. "The country should immediately end its foolish act and walk on the path to denuclearization with sincerity." (Yonhap)