North Korean foreign ministry blasts U.S. pressure claims

SEOUL, May 6 (UPI) -- North Korea's foreign ministry has warned Washington not to "mistake its peace-loving intentions for a sign of weakness," blasting claims that the U.S-led campaign of pressure and sanctions on the NOrth paved the way for the upcoming summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

In an interview with (North) Korean Central News Agency on Sunday, a foreign ministry spokesman said the United States has "misled public opinion by making it appear its sanctions and pressure had led to the recently adopted Panmunjom Declaration between the two Koreas revealing their intention to denuclearize the Peninsula."

The official added that "the U.S. has explicitly babbled on" about continuing its maximum pressure campaign until the North fully nuclearizes, saying this is an attempt to "bring in strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula and create tension."

A Seoul government official said the North appears to be alluding to the eight F-22 stealth fighter jets that were recently unveiled during a joint military drill between South Korean and U.S. forces, Chosun Ilbo reported.

The North Korean spokesman said Washington's continuous pressure and military threats on Pyongyang "will not help resolve issues."

"Intentionally provoking [the North] when it is advancing toward peace and reconciliation through the Panmunjom Declaration reached through the inter-Korean summit, is a dangerous action that will lead to the dampening of the mood for dialogue and undo the progress of recent developments," the spokesman said.