S. Korean opposition parties blast NK`s latest threat

The main opposition Democratic United Party and the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party on Tuesday criticized North Korea for escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of Pyongyang`s threat that its "armed forces would begin "special actions soon." The criticism was unusual for the progressive party, which is led by a pro-North Korea faction, and signals that the party seems to consider the threat serious.

"North Korea should refrain from escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula with provocative remarks," said Woo Wi-yeong, the progressive party`s spokeswoman, in a commentary. "(South Korean) President Lee Myung-bak and the government should also stop making remarks or acts provoking North Korea." "Tough language used by the two Koreas to provoke each other will not only jeopardize peace on the Korean Peninsula but also intensify distrust between them."

Moon Sung-keun, the acting chairman of the main opposition party, also said in a statement that the North`s threat is "remarks that wouldn`t be tolerated by any Korean who wants peace," urging Pyongyang`s new leadership to stop its hard-line policy led by the military.

Moon also blamed the South Korean government, blaming the Lee administration`s "security incompetence and hard-line policy toward the North" as the biggest cause for anxiety and the crisis.

Rep. Kim Sun-dong of the progressive party, who is also a member of the party`s pro-North faction, told a news conference that the "war of words" between officials of the two Koreas is leading to threats of war. He also urged the leadership and lawmakers of each party to form a peace delegation "as soon as possible" to facilitate a high-level inter-Korean meeting.

Kim, however, did not criticize Pyongyang and instead blamed President Lee for "provoking the North Korean leadership with his preaching about the North Korean system and its new leader." Kim said the North will consider such comments interference in its internal affairs as well as the chief executive`s mention of containing the North through China.

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