The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday condemned the United States for placing fresh sanctions on it and called on the country to respond to its efforts to improve bilateral ties.

The DPRK remains unchanged in its will to implement agreements made by the top leaders of the DPRK and the United States during their Singapore talks, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying.

Pyongyang hoped that "goodwill measures" such as suspending nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test fire, dismantling its nuclear test ground and repatriating POW/MIA remains would contribute to improving relations.

"However, the U.S. responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure against the DPRK," said a statement.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury earlier this month announced sanctions on an individual and three entities -- including a Russian commercial bank -- for alleged links with the nuclear program of the DPRK.

With such moves, "one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement including the denuclearization, and furthermore, there is no guarantee that the hard-won atmosphere of stability on the Korean Peninsula will continue," said the spokesperson.

DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un met with U.S. President Donald Trump in June in Singapore, where they signed a joint statement, agreeing to push for establishing diplomatic ties, building peace on the Korean Peninsula and completely denuclearizing the peninsula together.

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