Greenland's government has harshly criticized Greenpeace activists who scaled an oil rig to stop a Scottish company from deepwater drilling off the Arctic island.

Greenland's industry minister Ove Karl Berthelsen dismissed the action as a publicity stunt at the expense of Greenland's "legitimate right" to develop its economy.

Greenpeace activists on Sunday scaled the 53,000-ton rig Leiv Eiriksson, operated by Cairn Energy, and set up camp in a survival pod near the drill bit.

Berthelsen late Sunday dismissed Greenpeace's claims that Cairn is not taking the extra precautions needed to avoid devastating oil spills. He says Greenland's offshore drilling "complies with very high standards for safety and environmental protection."