North Korea’s state-run news agency says Pyongyang's call for the suspension of international agencies' humanitarian assistance is related to its sovereign rights.

The Korean Central News Agency said Pyongyang considers any criticism of the decision to border on intervention in its internal affairs.

It added that the Stalinist state is determined to cut back its acceptance of international aid to a level commensurate with a recent, dramatic improvement in its humanitarian situation.

Additionally, the news agency censured what it called Washington’s deliberate scheme to link food aid to the North's human rights record, citing the contents of a meeting held by the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea in September.

The meeting reportedly concluded that the U.S. should halt its food aid to North Korea if Pyongyang continues to refuse Washington oversight of food distribution inside the nation.