LOC18:39
15:39 GMT
TOKYO, Dec 30 (KUNA) -- North Korea on Tuesday blasted Israel's continuing
air raids on Gaza as "barbaric" and called for immediate suspension of the
deadly attacks, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency report
monitored by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
"Israel mobilized more than 60 fighters and gunship to launch barbaric air
raids on Gaza Strip of Palestine," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
"The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) resolutely denounces
Israel's killing of unarmed civilians as a crime against humanity, a serious
provocation against the Palestinians and other Arab people and an open
challenge to the Middle East peace process," the unnamed spokesman said.
The Israeli assaults on Gaza continued for the fourth day, leaving nearly
350 Palestinians dead and 1,400 wounded, according to news reports.
The spokesman said, "Israel should immediately stop all military actions
and positively respond to the demand of the Arab and other peoples of the
world for the comprehensive and fair solution to the Mid-east issue."
North Korea has been traditionally sympathetic to the Middle East,
according to the Yonhap. It openly welcomed the recent shoe attack against US
President George W. Bush by an Iraqi journalist, scornfully comparing Bush to
"a cock soaked in the rain." The phrase refers to a person of high status who
suddenly falls into disgrace. (end)
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KUNA 301839 Dec 08NNNN