North Korea has criticized the South Korean Defense Ministry's request to have the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology revise the nation’s high school textbooks. The ministry claims the books leaned toward the left.

The Rodong Sinmun, the official daily of the North Korean Workers’ Party, said the request was a crime against the Korean people and would instill hostility between the two Koreas.

The daily also blasted Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee’s statement on September fourth, which said the Sunshine Policy, a policy of reconciliation and cooperation with North Korea driven by former President Kim Dae-jung, should be reconsidered.

The daily claimed Lee’s statement denied the achievements made since the historical June 15th inter-Korean summit in 2000 and was a manifestation of anti-Korean identity.