Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Violent crimes by young people is on rapid increase in south Korea, its KBS said on Wednesday.

According to the Police Agency of south Korea, the number of young people charged with murder, robbery, rape and arson last year was over 3 400, 48 percent increase from 2008. Sexual assaults increased four times, in particular.

In the first half of this year at least 1 530 youngsters committed different kinds of crimes.

Juvenile crimes are getting all the more violent, KBS said.