S. Korea rebukes N.K. for insulting President Park

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea slammed North Korea on Saturday for insulting President Park Geun-hye who had warned the North against carrying out an additional nuclear test with a pledge to take stern actions against it.

Earlier in the day, North Korea's committee handling inter-Korean affairs issued a "special warning" against her, labeling her remarks as an "intolerable insult" to North Korea and "unpardonable and grave politically motivated provocation."

"Park would be well advised to properly wag her tongue, source of disaster, well aware of her wretched plight after facing a stern judgment from the people's mindset," the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in an English statement.

At a national security meeting, Park on Thursday said there will be no future for North Korea if it conducts its fifth nuclear test following its fourth in January.

There is growing speculation that the North may carry out a nuclear test in a bid to build up its accomplishments in the runup to its ruling party's congress slated for Friday.

South Korea's unification ministry voiced deep regret over North Korea's rebukes.

"Such an irrational act by North Korea only demonstrates that it does not have even the slightest basic manners as a member of the international community," the ministry said. "The North should immediately stop it."

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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