N.K. criticizes S. Korean unification minister's inaugural speech

North Korean main propaganda outlet on Tuesday criticized the inaugural speech by Seoul's unification minister in charge of inter-Korean affairs as a "sophistry" that lacks sincerity.

During his inauguration ceremony on Monday, Hong Yong-pyo pledged efforts to open a channel for practical inter-Korean cooperation while maintaining the keynote of its policy to deal sternly with North Korea's misbehavior but exert flexibility if dialogue is a possibility.

He also said his ministry will cooperate closely with the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation, which has come under fierce attack from Pyongyang.

"This is nothing but a sneaky sophistry intended to hide their confrontational policy and attempt to reunify the Korean Peninsula through absorption," the North's main propaganda website Uriminzokkiri said.

It cited North Korea defector groups' plan to fly anti-North Korea leaflets across the border and the ongoing South Korea-U.S.

joint military drills and Seoul's criticism of human rights situation in North Korea as reasons.

Hong should have declared a plan to dismantle the presidential committee if he wanted to show any sincerity with his words of dialogue, the North said. (Yonhap)