Advertisement

UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s bid for South Korean presidency mocked by the North

Pyongyang says former minister not to ‘stretch his feet no longer than his blanket will reach’

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
North Korea says Ban Ki-moon is as opportunistic ‘chameleon in a human mask’ who is dreaming a ‘hollow dream’. Photo: Xinhua

North Korea on Friday mocked outgoing United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over his apparent ambitions to run for South Korean president, calling him an opportunistic “chameleon in a human mask” who’s dreaming a “hollow dream”.

Advertisement

The North’s state-run Uriminzokkiri website said Ban’s alleged presidential ambitions were absurd because the way he handled his job as UN chief for the past 10 years has left him living in “criticism and shame”.

Ban with US President Barack Obama. Photo: EPA
Ban with US President Barack Obama. Photo: EPA

The article said Ban had a bad reputation in South Korea’s domestic politics because he’s an opportunist who “sets sail wherever winds blow and changes colours by the circumstance”.

“There is an old saying that you stretch your feet no longer than your blanket will reach, and his harbouring presidential ambitions despite living in all sorts of criticism and shame could only described as an incomparably hollow, silly dream,” Uriminzokkiri said.

Advertisement

Ban, who steps down as UN secretary general at the end of the year after two five-year terms, has not officially declared an ambition to run for South Korean president, but he has not denied his interest either.

loading
Advertisement