Seoul’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok lashed out Monday at Pyongyang for its repeated denial of responsibility for sending spy drones to South Korea, arguing that the communist state was not a legitimate state.

In an unusually strong tone, Kim also said the North that has repeatedly lied to the world should disappear quickly.

His remarks came a day after Pyongyang repeated that Seoul’s conclusion that the three drones, found in South Korea’s border regions in March and April, originated from North Korea was a fabrication.

“(North Korea) continuously makes remarks that are historically retrogressive…. It is really a country that cannot exist. Thus, it should vanish quickly. I hope you (reporters) do not take North Korea’s arguments seriously,” he told reporters during a regular briefing.

As to the North’s demand for a joint investigation into the drone case, Kim said, “It is a ludicrous demand. A criminal is calling for a joint investigation into the criminal act he or she has committed. There is no need whatsoever (to respond to that).”

“In 1998, North Korea said it put the satellite, Gwangmyongsong 1, into orbit. We all know that it fell into the sea. But Pyongyang still says that it is receiving broadcasting signals from the satellite. It has long lied (to the world) like that.”

On top of the drone case, Seoul has also pressured Pyongyang to recognize its responsibility for the sinking of the corvette Cheonan, which killed 46 sailors in 2010.

An international investigation team concluded that a North Korean midget submarine torpedoed the ship, but the North has denied its culpability.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)