DPRK accuses U.S. of slandering its socialist system

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday accused the United States of slandering its socialist system through a report on religious freedom.

Washington has abused religion for the political purposes of undermining the DPRK and overthrowing its social system, a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official KCNA news agency.

"The United States cannot solve any matter by antagonizing the DPRK. On the contrary, it will suffer bigger losses politically, diplomatically and strategically," the unnamed spokesman was quoted as saying.

Washington on Tuesday called on Pyongyang to fully cooperate with a landmark U.N. probe of widespread human rights violations in the DPRK.

Robert King, U.S. special envoy for human rights issues in the DPRK, said the human rights situation in the DPRK "remains deplorable." He warned that unless Pyongyang's leadership takes care of its people, it will become even more isolated.