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<\/p>\nKing Charles has found himself at the centre of a human rights row after sending "good wishes" to North Korea's Kim Jong-un.<\/p>\n
Propaganda in the secretive state reported the monarch got in touch for September 9, the Day of the Foundation of the Republic.<\/p>\n
The supreme leader meanwhile celebrated the occasion with a parade in Pyongyang featuring rocket launchers pulled by trucks and tractors.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Kim Jong-un receives 'good wishes' from King Charles as leader to meet Putin in Russia<\/b><\/p>\n
Sending such a chummy message has been dubbed a \u201chuge mistake\u201d by human rights campaigners spoke out after the monarch\u2019s message, dated September 9, was revealed in North Korean propaganda yesterday.<\/p>\n
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The regime\u2019s report said: \u201cKim Jong-un\u2026 received a message of greeting from Charles III, king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe message said: \u2018As the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), which documents the atrocities of the Kim regime, called it a \u201chuge mistake\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI understand the diplomatic rationale behind this message.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat said, the Kim regime commits crimes against humanity and other egregious human rights violations. If indeed legitimate, this message is a huge mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He continued: \u201cIt congratulates the Kim regime on the day of the founding of North Korea, September 9. That is a day that will live in infamy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe end result of that was the invasion of South Korea by the North. UK servicemen fought valiantly and made great sacrifices in order to defend South Korea. How about remembering their wonderful legacy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The monarch is thought to send such messages on the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).<\/p>\n
When asked for comment, a FCDO spokesperson provided only background information.<\/p>\n
They said that the King had simply continued the practice followed by the late Queen.<\/p>\n
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They added that the message had remained the same for many years, and was addressed to the North Korean people, not the regime.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time that the King has featured in North Korean media.<\/p>\n
The regime has released a number of commemorative stamps of the monarch, mainly from the time of his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, who appears alongside him.<\/p>\n
More than 81,000 British personnel served in the Korean War, with 1,106 UK troops losing their lives in action.<\/p>\n
Buckingham Palace was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n
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