Mass rallies in NKorea blast hostile policy of SKorean authorities

PYONGYANG, July 12 (Itar-Tass) - Mass rallies are staged in all North
Korean districts these days. Their participants denounce the policy of
South Korean authorities, led by President Lee Myung-bak, "staving off
normalisation of relations between the North and the South".
The KCNA news agency reports on Tuesday that army servicemen speaking
at rallies, representatives of the party, industrial enterprises and
students note that "the South Korean ruling quarters started pursuing the
hostile policy against the DPRK right after their advent to power in 2008".
They promise in response to Seoul's provocations "to stand even closer
behind their leader Kim Jong-Il and to take a retribution action".
Rally participants hear a statement by a representative of the supreme
command of the Korean People's Army (KPA), published on June 29, who said
that the South Korean military hanged posters in border areas with
slanderous slogans, insulting dignity, the system and the North Korean
army.
"If the South Korean side does not bring its apologies, the DPRK will
undertake an action of retribution," he warned.
Late in 2007, Lee Myung-bak carried the presidential elections and was
sworn-in on February 15, 2008. He took a tough position towards North
Korea and upbraided actions of its authorities. This resulted in
considerable cooling of relations between the two parts of the Korean
Peninsula.