S. Korea voices regret over N.K.'s rebuke against Park

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea voiced deep regret Wednesday that North Korea rebuked President Park Geun-hye for stressing the need to hand down stronger sanctions over the North's nuke test in her recent national address.

North Korea's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, said Tuesday that the South Korean leader delivered a national speech to avert a political crisis, calling her a devil of this era indulged in a dictatorship.

On Jan. 13, Park vowed to make all diplomatic efforts to ensure that the U.N. Security Council adopts a resolution that slaps the most powerful sanctions on North Korea over its fourth nuclear test early this month.

The Unification Ministry urged North Korea to stop insulting Park, expressing strong disappointment over the North's unfounded criticism.

"The international community has condemned North Korea for conducting its nuclear test (despite repeated warnings)," Jeong Joon-hee, a ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing. "We voice deep regret that North Korea has made unfounded criticism against President Park."

Jeong, meanwhile, said North Korea is presumed to be blamed for a recent influx of malicious code which was aimed at breaching Samsung Group's corporate messenger system.

"The North is projected to have been behind it, but the government is still seeking verification," he added. "How to respond will be decided later."

Earlier this week, malicious code was distributed online in connection with Samsung's messenger system. Samsung claimed that no hacking attempts have been detected so far.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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