PYONGYANG, June 6 (Xinhua) -- In the first direct attack on a member of the new South Korean government, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday accused its defense minister of seeking further isolation of Pyongyang as punishment for the latter's nuclear and missile programs.

The official daily Minju Joson (Democratic Korea) said in a commentary that South Korean Defense Minister Han Min Gu recently "held a confab (chat) with his U.S. master" and "called the DPRK's step for bolstering the nuclear deterrent for self-defense a 'provocation.'"

"The warmongers of the South Korean military like Han Min Gu are crying out for 'punishing' the DPRK, taking issue with its step for bolstering the nuclear deterrent for self-defense," said the commentary.

It said South Korean military is nothing but "colonial mercenaries" using second hand U.S. arms and afraid of fighting a war with the DPRK.

"Soldiers of the puppet army are wishing that a war would not break out during their service. Such an army with poor hardware is often bluffing, crying out for not 'pardoning the provocation of the north'and inflicting 'resolute punishment,'" said the commentary.