After decades of tension on the Korean peninsula and antagonism with the United States over its nuclear weapons program, Kim and Trump agreed to meet in what would be the first meeting between a serving US president and a North Korean leader. The plan followed months of war threats and insults from both leaders.

Trump scrapped the meeting on Thursday after repeated threats by North Korea to pull out of the summit in Singapore over what it saw as confrontational remarks by US officials. Trump cited North Korean hostility in canceling the summit.

In Pyongyang, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan said North Korea's recent criticisms of certain US officials had been a reaction to unbridled American rhetoric and that the current antagonism showed "the urgent necessity" for the summit.

"His sudden and unilateral announcement to cancel the summit is something unexpected to us and we cannot but feel great regret for it," Kim Kye Gwan said in a statement on state media.

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He added that North Korea remained open to resolving issues with Washington "regardless of ways, at any time."

North Korea had sharply criticised suggestions by Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, and Vice President Mike Pence that it could share the fate of Libya if it did not swiftly surrender its nuclear arsenal.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed by NATO-backed militants after halting his nascent nuclear program.

Kim Kye-gwan said North Korea appreciated Trump for having made the bold decision to work toward a summit.

"We even inwardly hoped that what is called 'Trump formula' would help clear both sides of their worries and comply with the requirements of our side and would be a wise way of substantial effect for settling the issue," he said, without elaborating.

Reuters