North Korean state media has called on the United States to drop sanctions, saying Pyongyang had demonstrated good faith by ending its nuclear weapons testing and handing over the remains of US troops killed in the Korean War.
The statements came just days after a confidential United Nations report concluded North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs, in breach of UN resolutions, and has continued to conduct illegal trades of oil, coal and other commodities.
North Korea and the US vowed to work to end Pyongyang's weapons programs at a landmark summit in June in Singapore, but have struggled to reach an agreement to accomplish that goal.
The North's state media accused Washington of "acting opposite" to its plan to improve ties, despite Pyongyang making goodwill gestures, including a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, the dismantling of a nuclear site, and the return of the remains of US soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.
Such "practical measures" had already deprived UN Security Council resolutions of their reason for being, said the Rodong Sinmun, a ruling Workers' Party mouthpiece.
"There have been outrageous arguments coming out of the US State Department that it won't ease sanctions until a denuclearisation is completed, and reinforcing sanctions is a way to raise its negotiating power," the newspaper said in an editorial.
"How could the sanctions, which were a stick the US administration had brandished as part of its hostile policy against us, promote the two countries' amity?"
The editorial is a fresh sign of Pyongyang's frustration over the slow-moving nuclear negotiations.
Under US President Donald Trump, the US pushed the UN to impose tough sanctions on North Korea as Kim conducted a string of missile and nuclear tests last year.
At a security forum on Saturday, the two sides sparred over the Singapore agreement, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling for maintaining sanctions against Pyongyang, and his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, criticising Washington for "retreating" from ending the war during a speech.
Pompeo suggested the North's continued work on its weapons programs was inconsistent with Kim's commitment to denuclearise, although he expressed optimism the process would be achieved.
Maeri, another North Korean outlet, stressed the need for US action to build confidence in response to the North's moves to close its weapons programs and send back the soldiers' remains.
"It takes two to tango," the website said.
