N. Korea says U.S. attempted 'cheap trick' contact

A top North Korean diplomat on Thursday acknowledged the U.S. had recently tried to make contact, but also blasted them as a "cheap trick" that would never be answered until Washington dropped its "hostile" policies.

That came from Choe Son Hui, North Korea's vice minister for foreign affairs, and it's the first formal rejection of outreach from the new White House under President Joe Biden.

It's also coming as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visit South Korea, part of a trip around Asia that marks the first overseas visits by top level Biden officials.

In Seoul Thursday Blinken said the U.S. would consider both pressure and diplomatic options against North Korea, which he has accused of committing "systemic and widespread abuses" against its own people.

Choe said in a statement carried by state media hat the U.S. had attempted to initiate contact through various methods, including emails and telephone messages via a third country.

Calling the attempts a "cheap trick" for building up public opinion, Choe slammed the U.S. for quote "groundless rhetoric" and a "lunatic theory of 'threat from North Korea.'"

Choe also criticized the U.S. for continuing military drills in South Korea, and keeping up sanctions that pressure Pyongyang.

Talks aimed at reducing tensions with North Korea and persuading it to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles have stalled since 2019.

Blinken and Austin will soon fly to Alaska for the Biden administration's first talks with Chinese officials, where North Korea is expected to be on the agenda.