Seoul: North Korea on Tuesday rejected Group
of Eight criticism over its alleged deadly sinking of a South
Korean warship, a day after the isolated communist nation
threatened to bolster its nuclear capability.
The North's Foreign Ministry accused the G-8 leaders of a
"sinister political purpose", saying in a report carried by
the country's official Korean Central News Agency that the G-8
has been reduced to an "evil group".
An international investigation led by South Korea
concluded in May that North Korea torpedoed the 1,200-ton
Cheonan near the two Koreas' disputed western sea border in
March. Forty-six South Korean sailors died.
Top world leaders at a G-8 meeting near Toronto over the
weekend condemned the ship's sinking, citing the probe that
found North Korea responsible. The leaders also criticised the
North's nuclear program.
The G-8 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Seoul has asked the UN Security Council to punish
Pyongyang over the sinking. Today, South Korea's legislature
passed a resolution condemning North Korea over the sinking.
The National Assembly also demanded that the North
apologise and punish those who responsible.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 21:11