Pyongyang slams S. Korea President for his North policy

Pyongyang, Aug 18 (IANS) North Korea on Friday slammed South Korean President Moon Jae-in for his policy towards Pyongyang and his cooperation with the US.

It is the first time that North Korea has held Moon personally responsible for his handling of the North-South relations since he came to power about 100 days ago, Xinhua news agency reported.

The official daily Rodong Sinmun criticised the South Korean leader, who in a Tuesday speech asserted that Seoul's "big challenge at present" was the "issue of North's nukes and missile".

Moon made the speech on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Korea from Japanese rule.

The newspaper accused Moon of intending to "kick the buck for the escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula to North Korea and carry out his treacherous 'north policy' with the backing of outsiders".

Relations between the two sides remain tense over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme and Seoul's military exercises with the US.

"If the regime of South Korea truly wants peace, it should not recklessly fault North Korea but clearly understand what is going on now. It should refrain from irritating North Korea, pursuant to the US foolhardy military manoeuvres," said Rodong Sinmun.

Also in his speech, Moon said South Korea should play a leading role in the nuclear issue in the peninsula.

Moon, who took office in early May, held a summit meeting with US President Donald Trump in late June, reaching an agreement that South Korea would become a dominant player in addressing the peninsula issues.

The President said security situations on the peninsula got significantly grave, stressing that any more war should not break out on the peninsula.