The U.S. says the blame for the lack of progress on the six-party talks lies with North Korea.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley made the comment in response to North Korea’s criticism of U.S. support for South Korea’s announcement that the North was responsible for the sinking of the “Cheonan” warship. The North also claimed that the blame for the stalled six-party nuclear talks lies with the U.S.

Crowley said that North Korea knows what it has to do but has repeatedly failed to fulfill its obligations. He said the North has once again taken provocative actions that not only undermine stability in the region but also present obstacles to progress toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Crowley added that if the North wants to see the status quo change, then Pyongyang is going to have to stop provocative actions, develop a sustainable relationship with other countries in the region and take affirmative steps toward denuclearization.