The South Korean government says rhetorical threats from North Korea have turned more aggressive due to heated competition among North Korean officials to declare loyalty to their young leader Kim Jong-un.

Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee revealed the government's assessment on Monday, acknowledging that the North’s latest rhetoric is stronger in level than before when Pyongyang carried out its third nuclear test.

Jeong said the North appears to be upping the level of its denunciations against the South’s government as North Korean officials are seeking to demonstrate their allegiance to Kim.

The spokesman expressed deep regret over the North’s blatant condemnation, saying such harsh words will "boomerang back" to the North.
 
He stressed that the North must realize that the vulgar language only reveals the level of the North Korean leadership to the international community.