Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at Seoul's unification ministry, announces the ministry's stance on North Korea's attempt to meddle in the April 10 general elections at the Government Complex Seoul, Jongno District, Seoul, April 2. Yonhap

The unification ministry on Tuesday denounced North Korea's attempt to meddle in South Korea's upcoming parliamentary elections, citing an increase in Pyongyang's state media reports disparaging President Yoon Suk Yeol and seeking to drive a wedge in the South.

Ahead of the April 10 general elections, North Korea has been using its state media to slander Yoon, exaggerate anti-government rallies and incite a divide in the South Korean society, according to the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs.

In the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, the number of reports condemning South Korea has been on the rise as the election day nears, with seven reports in January, 12 in February and 22 in March.

"The government once again strongly warns of North Korea's malicious attempts that have been strengthening ahead of the elections. We clearly point out that fake news, propaganda and incitement from North Korea cannot work in the system of liberal democracy," the ministry said.

Critics said it is not convincing to say that Pyongyang seeks to intervene in the elections just because there has been an increase in the North's media reports condemning South Korea.

The Rodong Sinmun targets the internal audience in North Korea and the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North's state-run news agency, releases reports targeting overseas readers. In South Korea, the websites of the Rodong Sinmun, the KCNA and other North Korean media outlets are not accessible.

"The KCNA targets the external audience, and the Rodong Sinmun is a media outlet for domestic readers. But it is a fact that through various channels, our people can access Rodong Sinmun reports," a ministry official said.

The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, earlier said there is a high possibility that North Korea could carry out military provocations ahead of South Korea's April elections.

North Korea fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea on Tuesday, according to the South Korean military. The missile flew about 600 kilometers before splashing into the sea.

Military officials suspect the North may have test-fired an IRBM tipped with a hypersonic warhead in a bid to check the performance of its delivery system following an engine test last month. (Yonhap)

（作者：汽车音响）