North Korea is renewing its call for the resumption of multi-nation talks on its nuclear program without preconditions.
Pyongyang's first vice foreign minister, Kim Kye Gwan, made the comments Wednesday at a forum in Beijing marking the 10th anniversary of the six-party nuclear talks.
The North abandoned the talks in 2009 and has since conducted two nuclear tests, prompting expanded United Nations sanctions. The United States has ruled out the talks' resumption unless Pyongyang shows a willingness to give up its nuclear program.
But Kim, the North's chief nuclear envoy, said attaching such preconditions causes "mistrust." He blamed Washington's "hostility toward North Korea" for increased tensions.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said that "all parties should be devoted to restarting the six-party talks."
The six-party talks involved North Korea, South Korea, the U.S., Japan, China, and Russia. They were aimed at getting the North to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for aid.