By Kim Bo-eun
North Korea, which had remained quiet about the cancellation of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit last week, indirectly began blaming the U.S. for the current deadlock in denuclearization talks.
Through its propaganda website Uriminzokkiri, the North protested recent statements about the halted military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis earlier this week stated the U.S. does not plan to suspend more joint drills, which raised speculation the halted drills could be resumed.
While U.S. President Donald Trump clarified the U.S. does not plan to resume the exercises, North Korea claimed through Uriminzokkiri that “dialogue and war schemes cannot go together.”
“The U.S. is going ahead with hostile military activities against us, behind the curtains of talks between North Korea and the U.S.,” the media stated.
“Special forces units of the U.S. that recently began entering naval bases in Japan, the Philippines and South Korea and conducting secret drills against us proves this.”
The outlet warned of consequences of military tension on the Korean Peninsula.
“If relations between North Korea and the U.S. deteriorate such as they did last year and if the Korean Peninsula faces risks of war, those who made military plots will take responsibility,” it said.
“We are keenly watching the secret operations against us, and have fully prepared countermeasures.”
The media also referred to the joint statement reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in June.
“The U.S. should play its role in carrying out the historic joint statement reached between the U.S. and North Korea, not focus on military gambling, which does more harm than good,” it said.
“The U.S. keeps referring to dialogue but not only did it not make the least bit of effort to establish trust, but only has insisted on denuclearization measures to be taken first.”
North Korea's ruling Workers' Party's mouthpiece, the Rodong Sinmun, highlighted international conflict situations involving the U.S., also seen as a way of blaming the U.S. for the current stalemate in talks.
It referred to the trade war between the U.S. and China, the conflict between the U.S. and Turkey, as well as Iran.
“China, which exported many products to the U.S., has been greatly damaged,” the newspaper said.
“The U.S. is threatening China by stating it will add more tariffs on products from China, and China is taking a strong stance against the U.S. with determination to counter the measures.”
The newspaper also cited experts' concerns about the trade war.
“Experts have cited concerns that the global economy will be greatly damaged due to the extension of the trade war between China and the U.S.”
Meanwhile, it referred to U.S. sanctions placed on Turkey, over Turkish authorities detaining a U.S. pastor.
“It is Turkey's stance that it will not give in to any economic pressures or sanctions imposed by the U.S.,” it said.
The outlet also referred to the U.S. resuming sanctions on Iran after leaving the Iran nuclear deal.