North Korea Criticizes Kim Yeon-chul by Name as a Shameless and Unreasonable Hotbar Minister

Government's "Active Promotion of Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation" Met with Cold Water
Verbal Abuse Including 'Sleep Talking', 'Delusions', 'Sleepwalking'
Direct Criticism of President Moon's New Year's Address as "Delusions and Self-Praise"

Chairman Kim Jong-un is conducting the third day of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party on December 30 last year.

The government revealed plans to promote various inter-Korean cooperation projects to advance inter-Korean relations and undertook a major organizational restructuring. However, North Korea harshly criticized the South with derogatory expressions such as "sleep-talking," "delusions of grandeur," and "somnambulism."

On the 8th, North Korea's external propaganda outlet "Meari" criticized the Ministry of Unification, which recently expressed its intention to actively promote projects toward the North this year, in an article titled "Product Advertisement in a Closed Store," saying, "The Ministry of Unification, which has been receiving public backlash in South Korea as a 'temporarily closed institution' and a 'useless public servant,' has become extremely strange lately."

The outlet stated, "(The Ministry of Unification) is loudly boasting as if they are about to accomplish something in inter-Korean relations this New Year, talking about cooperation and exchange projects, strengthening humanitarian aid, and expanding independent roles," and questioned, "Isn't this exactly like a closed 'store' making untimely 'product advertisements'?"

It continued, "The Ministry of Unification, which used to do nothing but eat public funds, suddenly feverishly advertises a 'turnaround in inter-Korean relations in the New Year,' causing people to wonder if the sun has risen in the west," adding, "It is truly embarrassing to see such a shabby 'store' incessantly making pitiful advertisements that no one even pays attention to."

Meari claimed, "No matter how you look at it, there seems to be only one reason. They are doing this because if things continue as they are, the Ministry of Unification might face not just a 'temporary closure' but a complete 'shutdown.'"

It further stated, "Having betrayed trust with the other side and repeatedly engaged in foolish acts, the Ministry of Unification has not only fallen into a state of temporary closure but is now on the brink of shutdown, making it truly pitiful and miserable."

Kim Yeon-cheol, Minister of Unification

Earlier, on the 7th, another propaganda outlet, "Uri Minjokkkiri TV," openly criticized Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-cheol by name.

In a video titled "Empty Hands and Empty Words," the outlet claimed, "The South Korean Minister of Unification, who idled away the past year in vain, is now emphasizing a new mindset in inter-Korean relations as the New Year begins, but this is being harshly criticized as the sleep-talking ramblings of a shameless and clueless minister."

Minister Kim had diagnosed in his New Year's address that the inter-Korean situation would not look bright for the time being and said, "A bold and innovative 'new mindset' is needed," which the outlet condemned.

The outlet criticized, "Looking at the actions of Kim Yeon-cheol and other South Korean officials, they have done nothing but beg, seek credit, entertain, and serve foreign powers throughout the year," adding, "As a result, they ended up with absolutely nothing accomplished in inter-Korean relations?just empty hands."

It added, "Yet the Minister of Unification is babbling about some new mindset, which can only be described as the confused behavior of a somnambulist who has lost all sense of surroundings," and said, "What the South Korean authorities desperately need is not a new mindset in inter-Korean relations but a normal mindset that allows them to properly reflect on their pitiful situation."

On the 7th, citizens are watching President Moon Jae-in's New Year's address in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Meari also referred to President Moon Jae-in's New Year's address on the 7th, saying, "The self-serving self-praise and delusional content of the 'North Korea policy' advertisement are utterly disgusting to hear."

Earlier, President Moon announced in his New Year's address that he would promote various exchange and cooperation projects to prepare for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's reciprocal visit. He proposed cooperation in border area development, a joint South-North hosting of the 2032 Olympics, and the joint registration of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a UNESCO World Heritage site to the North. He also expressed intentions to resume operations of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism.

In line with this strategy, the Ministry of Unification undertook a major organizational restructuring. The Ministry announced that it would expand the existing Exchange and Cooperation Bureau into the Exchange and Cooperation Office to support the implementation of inter-Korean agreements and the realization of a peace economy through diversification of exchanges and cooperation.

The Exchange and Cooperation Office will include a director-level Exchange and Cooperation Policy Officer and three newly established divisions: the Social and Cultural Exchange Operations Division, the Inter-Korean Border Cooperation Division, and the Exchange Support Division. The Ministry explained that the Inter-Korean Border Cooperation Division is intended to promote various cooperation projects for the peaceful use of the DMZ, including the international peace zone initiative proposed by the President.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.