The United States says that North Korea's walkout of military talks with South Korea is a "missed opportunity" for it to demonstrate its sincerity about improving ties.
US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said "North Korea needs to improve" relations with the South and "clearly this was an important opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity."
"Clearly having North Korea walking out puts it in the category of a missed opportunity," Crowley added.
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The Pentagon also on Wednesday urged the North to resume a dialogue with the South.
"We have consistently maintained that the North must address the Republic of Korea's legitimate grievances stemming from the sinking of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island and we believe the proper format to address South Korean grievances would be through direct inter-Korean talks," Colonel Dave Lapan said in a statement.
The South accuses the North of the November 23 artillery attack on Yeonpyeong island near the disputed Yellow Sea border and of torpedoing a warship near the border in March last year.
In Seoul, a South Korean defence ministry spokesman said the delegates at the talks even failed to discuss when to meet again.
"Under the current situation, we can say the talks have collapsed," the spokesman said.
