N. Korean Foreign Ministry questions US willingness to settle nuclear issue

North Korea's Foreign Ministry has questioned US willingness to settle the ongoing nuclear dispute after criticisms by Washington published in a report on global democracy. North Korea's official news agency quoted an unidentified spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry blasting a recent State Department report on advancing freedom and democracy. The Korean Central News Agency quoted the spokesman Saturday as saying that such criticism by the US has left North Korea "skeptical about whether it has true willingness" to peacefully settle the nuclear issue and improve bilateral relations.