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DPRK criticizes

RoK poll result

TOKYO: North Korea on Sunday broke its silence over last week's South Korean election, saying the result was a "disgraceful defeat" for President Kim Young-sam.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), monitored in Tokyo, said North Korean newspapers demanded the resignation of President Kim because of the result.

Kim's ruling New Korea Party won 139 seats in the 299-member National Assembly in Thursday's South Korean poll, which deprives it of its absolute majority but allows it to control parliament through a coalition with independents.

"The failure of the 'New Korea Party' will inevitably lead to political chaos in South Korea...," the party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said. "The Kim group, a target of overthrow by people, should admit its defeat in the election and step down from power without delay," the newspaper added in a commentary.-Reuter