North Korea’s recent statements have been “hostile,” “unnecessary,” and misrepresent Washington’s approach to working-level talks, the top U.S. foreign policy official on DPRK negotiations said Monday in Seoul.

Special Representative for North Korea with the U.S. State Department Stephen Biegun, during a press conference with his ROK counterpart Lee Do-hoon Monday morning, also rejected DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s self-declared end-of-year deadline for Washington to satisfy their demands in denuclearization talks.