U.S. sowing fear of N.K. to justify NMD: Rodong Shinmun

The Rodong Shinmun, official newspaper of North Korea`s ruling Workers Party, criticized the U.S. administration of President George W. Bush Monday for stressing the assumed threat of North Korean missiles to promote its plan to build a national missile defense system.

A commentary in the party organ was quoted by Pyongyang Broadcasting Station as saying Washington was seeking to ``package its NMD scheme aimed at containing and subduing big powers like Russia and China with the threat of North Korean missiles.``

It said the Bush administration was pursuing the missile shield for the purpose of checking these big powers and allowing the defense industries of the United States to make more money so that they could sustain the Republican government and help in Bush`s reelection in four years.

Ha Tae-Won scooop@donga.com