N. Korea criticizes Seoul gov`t almost daily: report

SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- Pyongyang has leveled criticism against South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak 78 times since he took office in February and against his
administration nearly every day, a ruling party legislator said Sunday.

North Korea's state-run media outlets targeted Lee directly 78 times in blasting
South Korea, calling him a "sycophant" and a "traitor," according to Rep. Chin
Young of the Grand National Party (GNP). Chin cited his analysis of Pyongyang's
statements and reports, obtained from Seoul's Unification Ministry, between Lee's
inauguration on Feb. 25 and Aug. 24.
North Korea refrained from criticizing the South Korean administration on only 29
of the observed 182 days, according to the analysis.
Lee, a former CEO of a Hyundai construction firm, was elected on a conservative
ticket after 10 years of liberal governance. He adopted three core principles in
his North Korea policy: seeking the communist regime's denuclearization, opening
the country to the outside world and raising the North's GDP to US$3,000 during
his term.
The policy was denounced by the North 14 times, the lawmaker said.
The North's criticism peaked over the summer when South Koreans took to the
streets protesting a government decision to resume U.S. beef imports. Beginning
with a May 7 statement branding the decision a "criminal act," North Korea issued
statements blaming the Lee administration or supporting the demonstrators 40
times, the analysis showed.