North Korea accuses US of 'ruining the mood' as Kim Jong-un prepares to meet Donald Trump

‘The US is deliberately provoking the DPRK when the Korean peninsula is moving towards peace and reconciliation’

North Korea has accused the US of “ruining the mood” of peace and reconciliation ahead of Donald Trump’s historic summit with Kim Jong-un.

The regime said the public was being misled by claims the negotiations were being driven forward by increased political pressure and sanctions.

North Korea also warned the US not to interpret their “peace-loving intention” as a sign of “weakness”.

The US president and his officials have repeatedly suggested that their tough policy towards North Korea has been a decisive factor in getting Kim Jong-un to the table.

“They said there were two alternatives: let them have what they have, or go to war,” Mr Trump said last month. “And now we have a much better alternative than anybody thought even possible.”

In a statement, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said the US was trying to “aggravate the situation on the Korean peninsula”.

“The US is deliberately provoking the DPRK at the time when the Korean peninsula is moving towards peace and reconciliation thanks to the historic north-south summit and the Panmunjom Declaration,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This act cannot be construed other than as a dangerous attempt to ruin the hard-won atmosphere and bring the situation back to square one.”

At last month’s summit Kim Jong-un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in signed an agreement seeking a formal end to the Korean War and the “complete denuclearisation” of the peninsula.

Mr Trump hailed the declaration by tweeting “KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!”

More recently, the president indicated a date and location had been agreed for his meeting with Kim Jong-un but did not give details.

The summit is expected to take place later this month or in early June, and Mr Trump has previously proposed the demilitarised zone as a venue.

North Korea is also considering the release of three Korean-Americans accused of anti-state activities.

Mr Trump will meet the South Korean leader at the White House on 22 May to “continue their close coordination on developments regarding the Korean peninsula”.

“The two leaders will also discuss president Trump’s upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un,” the White House said in a statement.