DPRK accuses US of trying to chill detente on Korean Peninsula

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Saturday accused the United States of trying to jeopardize the starting detente in inter-Korean relations by sending another nuclear carrier, Stennis, to the West Pacific.

The United States has also made it public it is deploying aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan in Japan and Carl Vinson in the waters off the Korean Peninsula, besides extra fighters and other strategic assets to the Republic of Korea (ROK), said Rodong Sinmun, the official daily of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

"Such moves are an unpardonable military provocation chilling the atmosphere for improved inter-Korean relations created by the DPRK's pro-active proposal and efforts and challenging the unanimous desire and demand of the public at home and abroad for detente and peace on the Korean Peninsula," it said in a commentary.

The DPRK and ROK held their first high-level meeting earlier this week at Panmunjom in more than two years, reaching a number of agreements ranging from cooperation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to taking measures to ease tensions on the peninsula.