North Korea yesterday blamed South Korean arrogance and deceit for the collapse of this week's planned talks and warned that prospects for any future dialogue had been severely damaged.
The two Koreas had initially agreed to hold their first high-level talks in six years in Seoul on Wednesday and yesterday but they were called off at the last minute following a dispute over protocol.
The talks had been seen as a step forward after months of soaring military tensions, but its collapse has instead resulted in a sizeable backwards stride.
Even the one positive development - the restoration of an inter-government hotline - seemed in doubt, with the North refusing to answer calls from the South since Wednesday morning.
"The South side had no intent to hold dialogue from the beginning," said a spokesman for the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, the state body that handles inter-Korean issues. "It only sought to create an obstacle to the talks, delay and then torpedo them," he said, accusing the South of "arrogant obstructions and deliberate disturbance".
"This impolite and immoral provocative behaviour made us think once again whether it will be possible to properly discuss matters or improve relations even if official talks are opened in the future."