Pyongyang lashes out over Bush administration`s hardline stance

North Korea launched an intensive propaganda campaign against the administration of United States president George W. Bush Wednesday in response to the hardline stance it took on the North in last week`s summit in Washington between Bush and President Kim Dae-Jung. Pyongyang aired periodic denouncements of Bush`s Republican administration for an hour starting at 1 p.m. In a commentary, the Pyongyang Radio broadcaster called the U.S. an imperialist aggressor, mastermind of wars and destroyer of peace, adding that by failing to alter its hostile stance toward the North, the U.S. was hurting its pride and dignity.

The North Korean radio network also claimed that the U.S. was attempting to strengthen military ties with Japan in order to ``crush us to death`` and that it had undertaken a massive arms buildup around the Korean peninsula ahead of launching a war of aggression against the North.

The broadcaster also charged that the U.S. was responsible for terrorist acts around the world, calling it a genuine terrorist, enemy of mankind, vicious destroyer of peace and abominable human rights abuser. It went on to state that if the U.S. decided to invade North Korea, it would face a horrible punishment. It called on the U.S. to offer an apology and compensation to the Korean people for an undisclosed offense and cited media reports and statements issued in other countries that criticize the U.S. government and its policies.

Ha Tae-Won scooop@donga.com