DPRK accuses US of interference in inter-Korean relations

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned the United States on Thursday not to interfere in the inter-Korean affairs, denouncing the US double-dealing on such issues as "disgusting".

Kwon Jong-gun, director general of the Department of US Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, told the official Korean Central News Agency that it was ridiculous for Washington to urge the DPRK to return to diplomacy and cooperation while keeping close coordination with the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"No one is entitled to say this or that about the inter-Korean relations as the relations pertain to the internal affairs of the Korean nation from A to Z," Kwon said.

On Tuesday, DPRK cut off all inter-Korean communication lines in protest of ROK authorities for allowing "defectors" to fly leaflets across the border, which it says is a hostile act breaching a series of peace agreements between the two sides. The US State Department expressed disappointment over Pyongyang's decision and urged both sides to solve the issue with diplomacy.

Kwon said the United States feels uneasy over any slightest sign of improvement in the inter-Korean relations and pretends to get very anxious if the relations get worse, and this double-dealing attitude is disgusting.

"If the US pokes its nose into others' affairs with careless remarks, far from minding its internal affairs, at a time when its political situation is in the worst-ever confusion, it may encounter an unpleasant thing hard to deal with," Kwon said.