South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has criticized the unification ministry for acting like a “North Korea aid ministry,” pledging to overhaul its role after appointing a DPRK hardliner to lead it.

Yoon made the remarks to his new nominee for unification minister Kim Yung-ho, whose selection last week has come in for sharp criticism from the opposition party due to Kim’s past remarks about overthrowing the DPRK regime and abolishing some inter-Korean agreements.