While making nice with US and South, North Korea slams Japan
PYONGYANG, Korea, Democratic People’s Republic Of — North Korea’s state-run media have toned down their rhetorical attacks on the United States and South Korea while leader Kim Jong Un pursues a more diplomatic approach, but the vitriol continues — and Japan is now Pyongyang’s favourite foil.
Commentaries critical of Tokyo, which has maintained a harder line toward Pyongyang than Seoul and Washington, have increased noticeably in recent weeks in a strategy aimed at driving a wedge between Japan and its allies.
Over the past few days, the North’s official media have chastised Japan for discriminating against its large ethnic Korean community and played up South Korean reports that protesters in Seoul threw eggs at the Japanese Embassy over Tokyo’s alleged attempts to take control over a disputed island that is a cause celebre for both North and South.
Pyongyang has also lambasted Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono for suggesting Japan could foot part of the bill for inspections to verify the North’s denuclearization process.