The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has accused South Korean acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn of trying to keep conservative forces in power by hyping up threats from the north, said official media Friday.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a spokesman for the Policy Department of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country of the DPRK as saying that Hwang made remarks about "tougher counteraction" and "retaliatory punishment" against DPRK recently.
"Days ago, traitor Hwang convened a 'state council meeting' at which he said 'the north may make sixth nuclear test or other provocations on the anniversary of the People's Army' and 'the north will face tougher counteraction if it makes reckless provocation,'" said the spokesman for the official organ which deals with inter-Korean affairs.
"On Wednesday, frightened by the combined live-fire demonstration of the services of the Korean People's Army the U.S. and south Korean warmongers hastily launched '2017 combined firepower annihilating drill,'" he said.
The DPRK Tuesday held its largest ever combined live-fire drill in the presence of its top leader Kim Jong Un at Wonsan on the eastern coast to mark the 85th founding anniversary of its army.
In response, the U.S. and South Korean forces also staged military exercises on Wednesday.
"Even the master U.S., much upset by the rapidly developing nuclear attack capability of the DPRK, is flustering by hurling its strategic assets. It is ridiculous for the South Korean puppet group to vociferate about 'retaliatory punishment,'" said the spokesman.
"What Hwang is behaving reveals the uneasiness of the south Korean conservative group who have been isolated and rejected as the days go by and betrays his sinister ploy to rally the conservative forces by inciting security crisis ahead of the 'presidential election,'" he added.
South Korea will hold a general election next month and a number of conservative and liberal candidates are contending for the presidency.
The DPRK has urged South Koreans to choose "progressive forces" to replace the conservative forces of the incumbent government which Pyongyang says has damaged inter-Korean relations.
