Military Hits Back at N. Korea’s Criticism

The South Korean military Wednesday issued its first response to North Korea’s verbal attacks, calling several comments "inappropriate."

Major General Kwon Oh-sung sent a radio message to his North Korean counterpart expressing regret over the North’s "deliberate slander and fostering of tension."

North Korea threatened to turn the South into a "sea of ashes" Tuesday in an apparent response to South Korea’s new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kim Tae-young. Last week, Kim told a parliamentary hearing that Seoul has contingency plans for preemptive strikes on North Korea’s nuclear weapons sites

The Defense Ministry in Seoul said, “It is inappropriate for the North to interpret in its own way what our officials said. This is very regrettable.”

“We remain committed to a key non-aggression agreement between the two sides. We are always ready to hold dialogue to ease tension and secure peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

North Korea has asked Kim to apologize for his comment.

A ministry official said, “The ministry decided to send this message with cooperation and consultation from relevant ministries to understand the real intention of North Korea.”

In Seoul, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan also chaired a meeting on responses to the North’s statements.

Seoul reportedly also reconfirmed its principle to respond to Pyongyang`s strategy of increasing tension in a calm manner, while maintaining a low-key position.

Senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security Kim Byung-kook and visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill also discussed the six-party talks and inter-Korean relations in Seoul.

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