Seoul: North Korea yesterday 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."
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."
The article said Ban had a bad reputation in South s domestic politics because he's an opportunist who "sets sail wherever winds blow and changes colors by 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.
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.
In a meeting in New York earlier this week, Ban said he was ready to "burn" his body in devotion for South Korea, his strongest hint yet of a presidential bid. The spotlight is on Ban because there's a possibility South Korea could hold presidential election in coming months. The country's opposition-controlled parliament on December 9 voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal.
