DPRK says US 'shifts blame' after failing to facilitate bilateral talks

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday criticized Washington for "shifting the blame" onto it over the failure to launch proposed bilateral talks.

"This is a foolish attempt of the US to fan up an atmosphere of sanctions and pressure on the DPRK through 'international cooperation' by shifting the blame for the failure to hold dialogue and negotiations for the settlement of the issue of the Korean Peninsula onto the DPRK," an unnamed DPRK foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The DPRK had invited Sung Kim, US special representative for the DPRK policy, to visit Pyongyang during his Asia tour from Jan 26-30, it said, but the US side "misled public opinion by creating impression that dialogue and contacts are not realized due to the latter (Pyongyang)'s insincere attitude."

The DPRK "feels no need to sit at a negotiating table with the party totally denying the ideology and social system chosen by the Korean people," the statement said.

"The DPRK will resolutely counter the US as long as it refuses to make its Korea policy switch," it added.

Pyongyang proposed a moratorium on nuclear tests to Washington in early January in exchange for the suspension of joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, but the offer was rejected by Washington and Seoul.