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Seoul voices regret over N. Korea's "rude" remarks

TOKYO, Aug 19 (KUNA) -- The South Korean Presidential Office expressed regret Friday over the "rude" remarks of the North Korean leader's sister on President Yoon Suk-yeol's offer of economic aid in exchange for denuclearization steps, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Kim Yo-jong, a powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued a commentary earlier in the day, calling Yoon's initiative "the height of absurdity." Kim, who is known to be in charge of inter-Korean affairs as vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, also lambasted Yoon by name, saying "We don't like" him before evaluating Seoul's policy toward Pyongyang in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
"We consider it very regrettable that North Korea continues to use rude language while mentioning the president by name, and continued to express its nuclear development intentions while distorting our 'audacious plan," the Seoul's Presidential Office said in a statement.
"Such an attitude by North Korea is not helpful not only for North Korea's own future but also for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and will only accelerate its international isolation," it added.
The Office also said it remains unchanged in its pursuit of North Korea's denuclearization and the development of inter-Korean relations through the president's "audacious plan" and calls on North Korea to be "prudent and make careful considerations." Kim's statement came four days after Yoon used his Liberation Day speech to lay out some details of the plan, one of his key campaign pledges, aimed at helping the impoverished North develop its economy in the event that it takes denuclearization steps. Yoon's offers included a bold program of economic assistance, development and infrastructure investment. (end) mk.mt