"I think all South Koreans should be worried about a regime that treats its own people so badly," Vershbow said in a message posted at Café USA, the embassy PR website set up by his predecessor Christopher Hill. He claimed North Korea “wastes its scarce resources on nuclear weapons, and … engages in counterfeiting, drug trafficking, money laundering and the export of dangerous military technologies in order to survive.”

The envoy said he was writing in response to a post from a South Korean visitor on Friday that read, “The arrogance of Americans has crossed the line” and accused Vershbow of “acting in contradiction to his predecessor, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill,” who has favored more conciliatory public statements in his role as chief negotiator in six-nation talks on the Stalinist country’s nuclear program. The post also charged Vershbow with “irrational diplomacy” for calling Pyongyang a “criminal regime” late last year.

But Vershbow said overlooking the damage the North Korean regime did to its own people, namely more than 1 million people who died of famine, chronic malnutrition and economic stagnation, would never advance unification of the two Koreas.

The ambassador has been notably critical of the North for its alleged engagement in illegal activities while making the rounds at various discussions and seminars.

(englishnews@chosun.com )