North Korea tells South to stop 'nonsensical' denuke talk

Seoul had lobbied hard to set up nuclear summits between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, who have met three times since 2018. At the same time, Moon also worked to improve inter-Korean relations. But Pyongyang in recent months has suspended virtually all cooperation with the South while expressing frustration over the lack of progress in its nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.

Pyongyang: North Korea on Saturday again bashed South Korea, telling its rival to stop “nonsensical” talk about its denuclearisation and vowing to expand its military capabilities.

The statement by senior North Korean foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun came after South Korea’s foreign ministry told reporters that Seoul will continue to work toward improving bilateral relations and reviving nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington.

North Korean state television on Saturday reported the country's latest broadside against South Korea, saying relations were now at an "uncontrollable stage".

Employing Pyongyang's trademark tough language, a newsreader read out a statement sharply criticising the Blue House, the official residence of South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

The statement did not mention Moon by name.

It ended with a warning that Seoul would face "painful times".

The latest war of words between the two countries started after activists in the South used balloons to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border into the North.

Although the government in the South acted to stop the activists, the statement from Pyongyang said this had come too late.

Seoul had shut the stable door after the horse had bolted, the statement said.

AP