He zealously shielded the confrontation policy of the old witch of Chongwadae, touting "the foundation established for peace and peaceful reunification." When he appeared at a "gathering of homesick people" held at Rimjin Pavilion a few days later, he cried out for "leading the north to changes" together with the international community, deliberately falsifying the truth in a bid to create impression that the issue of divided families and relatives from the north and the south has not yet been settled due to the DPRK.

Commenting on this, Rodong Sinmun Monday says:

What traitor Hong uttered to stoke confrontation in disregard of time and place is reminiscent of a psychopath's hysteric fit.

Ministers have been replaced for tens of times since the ministry of Unification appeared in south Korea but there has not been such halfwit as Hong.

He has only danced to the tune of traitor Park's confrontation policy, being utterly ignorant of the north-south ties and without his own view on the reunification issue.

His reckless tongue-lashing only brings to light his wretched plight as he is fated to meet the same miserable end as Park's before long.