North Korea has denounced President Park Geun-hye’s speech marking the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonialism and the joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises that are currently under way.
 
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling Workers’ Party, said Wednesday that South Korean government officials are to blame for their provocations and threats.
 
In five stories that filled nearly five pages, the paper said Park’s Liberation Day speech about purges and public uneasiness in the North was absurd. The paper said those meddling with the North’s dignity would not be forgiven.
 
On Park’s proposals to organize reunions of separated families, the North Korean paper said it was ironic for Seoul to discuss reunions when it has blocked inter-Korean exchanges and humanitarian cooperation projects.
 
On the latest reports, Professor Yang Moo-jin at the University of North Korean Studies said Pyongyang appears to be seeking changes in Seoul’s North Korea policies by blaming President Park for all inter-Korean confrontations.