North Korea criticizes US for being 'two-faced' in maintaining sanctions

North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA published a nearly 1,700-word commentary today criticizing the United States. The article said Washington was "playing a double game" and would only destroy a rare diplomatic opportunity between the two countries with sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.AFPreport

"Hostile policies and reciprocal relations cannot go together," the article stressed, adding that North Korea and the US would not be able to push forward negotiations "with the obstacle of sanctions."

The article was published two weeks after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Pyongyang and said he had "productive" discussions on denuclearization with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

At the first summit between the US President and the North Korean leader in Singapore in June, the two countries pledged to work towards the goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. However, so far, this effort has not achieved any significant progress.

North Korea wants the United Nations to lift sanctions imposed on the country in exchange for Pyongyang destroying its nuclear arsenal. The US, meanwhile, insists that sanctions must continue until North Korea completely denuclearizes.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has had three meetings with the North Korean leader this year, has vowed to respect UN sanctions but also agreed to pursue some joint economic projects with North Korea.