North Korea yet to offer any condolences for Sewol ferry disaster
South Korea's devastating ferry disaster has elicited messages of sympathy, condolence and support from around the world, with one glaring, though not wholly unexpected, exception.
South Korea's devastating ferry disaster has elicited messages of sympathy, condolence and support from around the world, with one glaring, though not wholly unexpected, exception.
North Korea has barely commented on the tragedy that has dominated headlines since the 6,825-tonne Sewol capsized and sank on Wednesday morning with 476 people on board.
Around 45 heads of state across the political and geographical spectrum have sent personal condolence messages, including US President Barack Obama, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
Not a word, however, from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who, the North's official KCNA news agency reported, had thoroughly "enjoyed" a performance by the popular, all-female Moranbong Band on Wednesday evening, around the time the full scale of the ferry disaster was emerging.
The only notable reference came on Saturday when KCNA ran a brief news despatch on the accident that had "claimed many casualties."
KCNA quoted South Korean media reports that highlighted anger among the victims' relatives over the official response to the sinking.
The only commentary from KCNA came in the form of a dig at the government in Seoul to "bear deep in its mind" the sorrow and anger of the families.
Declarations of sympathy at times of national grief are not unprecedented.
When North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died in December 2011, the South Korean government offered its condolences to the North Korean people.
Pyongyang's response to the ferry tragedy has been met with online outrage.
