North Korean media says resuming the six-way nuclear talks is impossible as long as U.S. financial sanctions remain on the North.

Pyongyang Radio said in a Friday commentary that Washington must lift the sanctions as soon as possible if it sincerely wants to resume and see progress in the dialogue, saying the two matters are inseparable.

Prospects for the resumption of the talks are bleak since Washington has pledged not to lift the sanctions until Pyongyang halts illegal activities such as counterfeiting.