Analysts in Seoul say North Korea's move reflects its concern that the defeat of President Roh Moo-hyun's Uri Party in Wednesday's elections could pave the way for South Korea's anti-communist party to take power in next year's presidential elections.

The May 31 local elections, the latest face-off between Roh's reformist party and the conservative Grand National Party, are widely seen as a barometer for presidential voting in December 2007.

This month's elections are also considered crucial to the fate of Roh's reconciliatory policy toward North Korea, as his party has suffered humiliating defeats in a series of elections in recent years.

The possibility of a victory for Roh's party looks low, as the party's approval rating has dropped from 22.6 percent to 18.9 percent according to a recent opinion survey. The GNP's rating has increased from 51.8 percent to 56.6 percent, forecasting a landslide victory for the opposition parties in the local elections.

In a bid to add strength to Roh's potential, North Korea has called for South Koreans to vote against candidates from the opposition party, saying a GNP victory would help the United States increase its influence in the South.

"The United States is seeking to install a puppet regime in South Korea to prepare for a war of aggression on the North," Pyongyang's state-run Committee of the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said in a recent statement.

"Casting votes for the GNP is support for a war on the Korean peninsula and those who voted for the GNP would not be free from gunfire too," the statement said.

The statement, entitled "To All Southern Brethren," urged South Koreans to vote for candidates from "peace and progressive forces," referring to the ruling Uri Party. "If the peace and progressive forces lose in the local elections, pro-U.S. puppet forces could score points in next year's presidential election," it said.

Earlier, a North Korean Web site posted a statement urging South Korean voters to "bring a shameful defeat" to the GNP.

"We believe Seoul citizens should cast anti-GNP votes, based on national conscience and responsibility," said the site "Uriminjokkiri," ("together with our nation" in Korean). "All our people in the North and abroad are closely watching the May 31 elections. We expect Seoul citizens to make a responsible choice."

The GNP has long maintained a pro-U.S. and anti-communist stance, accusing President Roh's North Korea policy as "appeasement." It has also called for an end to unconditional economic aid to the North in line with the Bush administration.

The conservative party lost two consecutive presidential elections, in 1997 and 2002, but is now enjoying a powerful comeback against the backdrop of the Uri Party's plunging popularity.

Roh has long suffered from approval ratings below 30 percent in the wake of corruption scandals and diplomatic rows with the United States. His five-year term ends in February 2008; he is not allowed to run for re-election under the country's constitution.

Recent public surveys show ruling party candidates cannot be elected in next year's presidential election. According to a poll last week, popularity for GNP leader Park Geun-hye stands at 21.5 percent, and her in-house rival, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak, enjoys 21.3 percent popularity.

In contrast, the approval ratings for the two main Uri Party candidates, Chung Dong-young, former unification minister, and former Health Minister Kim Geun-tae remain lower than eight percent, dimming the prospect of a Uri Party victory.

North Korea's campaigns for the South's ruling party came after Roh and his aides vowed massive economic aid to the impoverished communist neighbor as part of efforts to ease cross-border tensions.

Earlier this month, Roh said his government was ready to "make many concessions" to the North for unconditional dialogue with Pyongyang. He has expressed opposition to any notions of regime change in the communist country proposed by Washington.

Roh's North Korea pointman, Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, has also vowed massive aid to improve the North's poor infrastructure. Roh's government has already promised to supply energy-scarce North Korea with 2 million kilowatts of electricity free of charge -- if the communist country agrees to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

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