In an op-ed carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), it said Lee insulted North Korea by describing it as a "poor but fierce neighbor" while talking about the North's denuclearization, which it claimed "showed his true colors as a hypocrite to the whole world."
Lee said the previous day that South Korea will "modernize" its bilateral alliance with the U.S. to "counter" any provocation while working closely with the U.S. to engage in talks with North Korea for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, during a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies after wrapping up his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
Calling his remarks about denuclearization a "sheer sophism," it further criticized Lee, saying he "did not hide his real intention and revealed his true colors as a confrontation maniac," just 80 days after taking office.
"It is a daydream for the [South], the one and only political poor in the world who has offered all its sovereignty to the U.S., to cherish an absurd hope for 'denuclearization' unaware of the nature of the nuclear issue of the [North]," it blasted.
Stressing its strong resolve not to give up its nuclear arsenal, it added, "We once again remind him of the fact that our position as a nuclear weapons state is an inevitable option that correctly reflects the hostile threat from outside and the change of the structure of the world security dynamics."
The state media also criticized Lee's recent "three-stage denuclearization" proposal, calling it a "naive dream." Just days ahead of his trip to the U.S., Lee proposed the idea that would freeze North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as a first step, eventually leading to permanent denuclearization through a phased reduction.
Lee has shown a series of conciliatory gestures toward North Korea despite the North's snub of his overtures.
reporter
Im Yoon-seo
lyseo0330@ajupress.com
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