North Korea steps up criticism of Pres. Lee

North Korea is stepping up criticism of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak by naming him more often in statements against him.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said in a report to the National Assembly Thursday, “The number of cases in which North Korea has blasted President Lee by calling his name was five in April, 64 in May, and 166 in June.”

“Since the spokesman of the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland held on May 11 a news conference to object to President Lee’s proposal in Berlin, the number of such cases has surged.”

The ministry added, “The North, which sent a flurry of overtures, said it will no longer interact with the South after its leader Kim Jong Il’s visit to China and changed its attitude to a hard-line stance, even by announcing distorted facts on secret inter-Korean contacts.”

spear@donga.com