The DPRK's move on Wednesday came as the United States met Chinese and the Republic of Korea officials for talks on how to calm the Korean peninsula and persuade the DPRK to stop its nuclear work.

Seoul, which wants an apology after the DPRK’s deadly shelling of a RoK island off disputed waters in November, said Pyongyang's call for talks was an empty gesture.

The artillery fire and the March 2010 sinking of a RoK ship blamed on the DPRK despite its denials, have raised tension in Asia and increased the pressure to resume talks.

Washington has sent its envoy Stephen Bosworth to Asia for talks. He is in China on Thursday and will be in Japan on Friday.