The leader of nuclear-armed North Korea has blamed the united state for tensions in the Korean peninsula. He has defended Pyongyang's weapon program, claiming it is necessary in the face of hostile united States.

Kim Jong Un: US reason for tension in Korean peninsula

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters after meeting Russian officials in Moscow it would be "impossible" to hold another summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump if he maintains his current stance towards the North.

"To negotiate with the United States going forward, we would be able to discuss nuclear issues again when it withdraws all of its hostile policy against us," Choe said, according to Yonhap.

"In that sense, I think a summit should not really be an issue of our interest."

She did not specify what constituted such a policy, but North Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday that a recent United Nations resolution on its human rights was a US-led "political provocation".

North Korea has also called for an end to joint military drills with South Korea, as well as sanctions that crippled its economy.

When asked what US&nbsp;action was needed to restart the talks, Choe said the Americans "know very well".

"The US side will have to lift all measures with which they treat us as an enemy and then inform us of such a strategic decision," she said.

Kim and Trump held a first, landmark summit in Singapore in June last year and agreed to improve relations and negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

The efforts have made no substantial progress and their second summit collapsed in Vietnam in February.

The two leaders agreed in June, at a third meeting at the inter-Korean border, to re-open negotiations. But working-level talks in October between officials in Sweden ended with the North Korean envoy accusing the Americans of coming to the table empty-handed.

Choe, one of North Korea's key nuclear negotiators, met Russian officials including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, Yonhap said.

Her remarks were the latest in a series of statements in recent weeks by senior Pyongyang officials calling for US&nbsp;action, as a year-end deadline set by Kim for Washington to show more flexibility draws near.

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters after meeting Russian officials in Moscow it would be "impossible" to hold another summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump if he maintains his current stance towards the North. "To negotiate with the United States going forward, we would be able to discuss nuclear issues again when it withdraws all of its hostile policy against us," Choe said, according to Yonhap. "In that sense, I think a summit should not really be an issue of our interest." She did not specify what constituted such a policy, but North Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday that a recent United Nations resolution on its human rights was a US-led "political provocation". North Korea has also called for an end to joint military drills with South Korea, as well as sanctions that crippled its economy. When asked what US action was needed to restart the talks, Choe said the Americans "know very well". "The US side will have to lift all measures with which they treat us as an enemy and then inform us of such a strategic decision," she said. Kim and Trump held a first, landmark summit in Singapore in June last year and agreed to improve relations and negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. The efforts have made no substantial progress and their second summit collapsed in Vietnam in February. The two leaders agreed in June, at a third meeting at the inter-Korean border, to re-open negotiations. But working-level talks in October between officials in Sweden ended with the North Korean envoy accusing the Americans of coming to the table empty-handed. Choe, one of North Korea's key nuclear negotiators, met Russian officials including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, Yonhap said. Her remarks were the latest in a series of statements in recent weeks by senior Pyongyang officials calling for US action, as a year-end deadline set by Kim for Washington to show more flexibility draws near.

North Korea says no interest in Trump summit until 'hostile policy' removed

China on Friday dismissed renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump over its role in North Korea, saying the crux of the matter was a dispute between Washington and Pyongyang.&nbsp;

&quot;We have said many times already that the crux of the North Korean nuclear issue is the problem between the United States and North Korea,&quot; Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing, responding to Trump&#39;s remarks.

&quot;We hope the relevant parties can shoulder their responsibilities, play the role they should, and together with China play a constructive role for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and for its denuclearisation,&quot; he added.

Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that China could solve the national security challenge posed by North Korea &quot;very easily if they want to&quot;, turning up pressure on Beijing to exert more influence to rein in Pyongyang&#39;s increasingly bellicose actions.

China has made clear that it opposes North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missile programmes and has repeatedly called for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and a return to negotiations between Pyongyang and world powers.

It has also insisted it is dedicated to enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea.

China announced on Saturday last week it was banning imports of coal from North Korea, after it tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile.

North Korean state media issued a rare reproach of China on Thursday saying its main diplomatic backer was &quot;dancing to the tune&quot; of the United States for halting its coal imports because of its nuclear and missile programmes.

The North&#39;s state-run KCNA news agency did not refer directly to China by name but in an unmistakable censure it accused a &quot;neighbouring country&quot; of going along with North Korea&#39;s enemies to &quot;bring down its social system&quot;.

Asked about the report, Geng said the UN sanctions were a clear signal of opposition from the international community about North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missile programmes and that China would enforce them.

However, he also described China and North Korea as being friendly neighbours.

&quot;We are willing to work with North Korea to promote the stable and healthy development of relations,&quot; Geng said, adding North Korea was well aware of China`s position on its nuclear programme. 
 
(AFP)

The statement comes after Trump turned up pressure on Beijing to exert more influence to rein in Pyongyang

China on Friday dismissed renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump over its role in North Korea, saying the crux of the matter was a dispute between Washington and Pyongyang. "We have said many times already that the crux of the North Korean nuclear issue is the problem between the United States and North Korea," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing, responding to Trump's remarks. "We hope the relevant parties can shoulder their responsibilities, play the role they should, and together with China play a constructive role for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and for its denuclearisation," he added. Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that China could solve the national security challenge posed by North Korea "very easily if they want to", turning up pressure on Beijing to exert more influence to rein in Pyongyang's increasingly bellicose actions. China has made clear that it opposes North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and has repeatedly called for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and a return to negotiations between Pyongyang and world powers. It has also insisted it is dedicated to enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea. China announced on Saturday last week it was banning imports of coal from North Korea, after it tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile. North Korean state media issued a rare reproach of China on Thursday saying its main diplomatic backer was "dancing to the tune" of the United States for halting its coal imports because of its nuclear and missile programmes. The North's state-run KCNA news agency did not refer directly to China by name but in an unmistakable censure it accused a "neighbouring country" of going along with North Korea's enemies to "bring down its social system". Asked about the report, Geng said the UN sanctions were a clear signal of opposition from the international community about North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and that China would enforce them. However, he also described China and North Korea as being friendly neighbours. "We are willing to work with North Korea to promote the stable and healthy development of relations," Geng said, adding North Korea was well aware of China`s position on its nuclear programme. (AFP)

US, North Korea should shoulder nuclear issue responsibly: China