North Korea slams 'loser' Obama for regime collapse remark

North Korea slams 'loser' Obama for regime collapse remark

SEOUL - North Korea Sunday described US President Barack Obama as a "loser" over his criticism on its regime, accusing him of being obsessed with hostility towards Pyongyang.

The comment from the North's foreign ministry came after Obama spoke of the eventual collapse of the regime ruling what he called "the most isolated, the most sanctioned, the most cut-off nation on Earth".

"We will keep on ratcheting the pressure, but part of what's happening is... the Internet over time is going to be penetrating this country," Obama said in an interview on YouTube from the White House last week.

"Over time you will see a regime like this collapse," he said, adding the US was looking for ways to accelerate the flow of information into the country.

A spokesman for the North's foreign ministry lashed out at the remarks, describing them as "rubbish".

"The recent wild remarks made by Obama are nothing but a poor grumble of a loser driven into a tight corner in the all-out standoff with the (North)," the spokesman told state news agency KCNA.

"We cannot but be shocked to find that Obama... is so preoccupied with the inveterate repugnancy and hostility toward a sovereign state." Attempts to topple the regime - led by Kim Jong-Un - would only strengthen unity among its people, he said.

The North has often used bombastic and sometimes racist rhetoric to slam Obama and other US leaders. Last month its top military body chaired by Kim compared Obama to a "monkey" over his support for the screening of a Hollywood comedy hated by Pyongyang.

"The Interview" - about a fictional plot to assassinate Kim - was released online and in theatres last month, despite devastating cyberattacks on its producer Sony Pictures.

Washington blames Pyongyang for the attacks, a charge the North has angrily denied.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.