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North Korea turns on 'incompetent' South North Korea summit: Trump says no 'Libya model'
(35 minutes later)
North Korea says it will not resume talks with the South until issues between the two countries are resolved. US President Donald Trump says the so-called "Libya model" for denuclearisation is not being pursued with North Korea.
Its chief negotiator dismissed the South Korean authorities as incompetent and senseless. Pyongyang is angry at continuing US-South Korea joint military exercises. In 2003, Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi agreed to give up his nuclear programme but was killed by western-backed rebels years later.
President Donald Trump is attempting to soothe North Korean concerns ahead of his planned summit with Kim Jong-un. The suggestion, put forward by his national security adviser John Bolton, prompted alarm in North Korea.
South Korea has offered to act as a bridge between the two sides. Mr Trump said he still thought a summit with the North would still happen.
But that now looks less likely following North Korea's statement. North Korea warned on Wednesday that it might not attend the summit, due to take place in Singapore on 12 June.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said "if it happens, it happens" - and if not, the US would go on to other things.
Also on Thursday, North Korea said it would not resume talks with the South until issues between the two are resolved. Pyongyang is also angry at continuing US-South Korea joint military exercises.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said "if it happens, it happens" - and if not, the United States would go on to other things.
South Korea had offered to act as a bridge between the US and North Korea.
But that now looks less likely following North Korea's latest statement about the South.
Chief negotiator Ri Son-gwon reverted to the angry language the north has used before, in comments reported by state news agency KCNA.Chief negotiator Ri Son-gwon reverted to the angry language the north has used before, in comments reported by state news agency KCNA.
He also criticised the South Korean authorities for allowing "human scum" (a reference to a North Korean defector) to speak at the Seoul National Assembly.He also criticised the South Korean authorities for allowing "human scum" (a reference to a North Korean defector) to speak at the Seoul National Assembly.
On Tuesday North Korea pulled out of a meeting with South Korea scheduled for the following day because of anger over the start of US-South Korea joint military drills.On Tuesday North Korea pulled out of a meeting with South Korea scheduled for the following day because of anger over the start of US-South Korea joint military drills.
It later released a statement saying it might pull out of the summit with the US if the Trump administration insisted it gave up its nuclear weapons unilaterally.
The highly anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Kim is due to take place in Singapore on 12 June.
A White House spokesperson said on Wednesday that the US president remained ready.
Thursday's criticism of South Korea marks yet another shift in tone from Pyongyang just weeks before the planned US summit, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul says.Thursday's criticism of South Korea marks yet another shift in tone from Pyongyang just weeks before the planned US summit, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul says.
Pyongyang appears to be putting pressure on both the US and South Korea and refusing to talk until some concessions are made, she adds.Pyongyang appears to be putting pressure on both the US and South Korea and refusing to talk until some concessions are made, she adds.
What has upset North Korea?What has upset North Korea?
The current US-South Korean aerial combat drills known as Max Thunder involve nearly 100 warplanes carrying out exercises over the Korean peninsula.The current US-South Korean aerial combat drills known as Max Thunder involve nearly 100 warplanes carrying out exercises over the Korean peninsula.
North Korea described them as a "provocation" and a rehearsal for an invasion.North Korea described them as a "provocation" and a rehearsal for an invasion.
North Korea's suggestion that it might pull out of the US summit pointed the finger squarely at US National Security Adviser John Bolton.North Korea's suggestion that it might pull out of the US summit pointed the finger squarely at US National Security Adviser John Bolton.
"We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him," said Wednesday's statement, which was written by Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan."We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him," said Wednesday's statement, which was written by Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan.
North Korea was apparently alarmed by an interview Mr Bolton gave comparing it to "the Libya model" of denuclearisation. North Korea was apparently referencing an interview Mr Bolton gave comparing it to "the Libya model" of denuclearisation.
Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi gave up his nuclear programme only for him to be killed by Western-backed rebels a few years later.
What did President Trump say?What did President Trump say?
On Thursday, Mr Trump distanced himself from Mr Bolton's "Libya model" comments.On Thursday, Mr Trump distanced himself from Mr Bolton's "Libya model" comments.
As his national security adviser looked on in the Oval Office, the US president said: "Well, the Libyan model isn't a model that we have at all when we're thinking of North Korea.As his national security adviser looked on in the Oval Office, the US president said: "Well, the Libyan model isn't a model that we have at all when we're thinking of North Korea.
The deal Mr Trump was considering with Kim Jong-un would be "something where he'd be there, he'd be in his country, he'd be running his country, his country would be very rich.The deal Mr Trump was considering with Kim Jong-un would be "something where he'd be there, he'd be in his country, he'd be running his country, his country would be very rich.
"If you look at South Korea, this would be really a South Korean model in terms of their industry… they're hard-working, incredible people.""If you look at South Korea, this would be really a South Korean model in terms of their industry… they're hard-working, incredible people."
On the planned summit, Mr Trump said: "Nothing has changed on North Korea that we know of. We have not been told anything.On the planned summit, Mr Trump said: "Nothing has changed on North Korea that we know of. We have not been told anything.
"And if it does that's fine and if it doesn't I think we'll probably have a very successful meeting.""And if it does that's fine and if it doesn't I think we'll probably have a very successful meeting."
What does this mean for the nuclear issue?What does this mean for the nuclear issue?
At the summit between the leaders of North and South Korea on 27 April both sides agreed to work to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons.At the summit between the leaders of North and South Korea on 27 April both sides agreed to work to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons.
But Pyongyang's professed commitment to "denuclearisation" is likely to differ from Washington's demand for "comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible" nuclear disarmament.But Pyongyang's professed commitment to "denuclearisation" is likely to differ from Washington's demand for "comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible" nuclear disarmament.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told MPs on Thursday there was a gap between North Korea and the US on "how to pull off denuclearisation", according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told MPs on Thursday there was a gap between North Korea and the US on "how to pull off denuclearisation", according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
North Korea said last week it would begin dismantling its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri between 23-25 May, but there was no mention of allowing foreign experts access to the site.North Korea said last week it would begin dismantling its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri between 23-25 May, but there was no mention of allowing foreign experts access to the site.
On a recent visit to North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed that any claim of denuclearisation by the North would require a "robust verification" programme by the US and other nations.On a recent visit to North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed that any claim of denuclearisation by the North would require a "robust verification" programme by the US and other nations.