North Korea on Friday said it was still open to talks with the United States after President Donald Trump called off a summit with leader Kim Jong-Un, saying it hoped the ‘Trump formula’ could resolve the standoff over its nuclear weapons program.

Trump on Thursday announced his withdrawal from what would have been the first-ever meeting between a serving U.S. president and a North Korean leader, scheduled for Singapore on June 12.

Trump’s decision came after repeated threats by North Korea to pull out of the summit over what it saw as confrontational remarks by US officials.

“We have inwardly highly appreciated President Trump for having made the bold decision, which any other U.S. president dared not, and made efforts for such a crucial event as the 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.

“His sudden and unilateral announcement to cancel the summit is something unexpected to us and we cannot but feel great regret for it,”North Korean Vice Foreign Minister, Kim Kye Gwan said, adding that North Korea remained open to resolving issues with Washington “regardless of ways, at any time.”  

Kim Kye Gwan added that Pyongyang’s recent criticisms of some US officials had been a reaction to unbridled American rhetoric, and that the current antagonism showed the urgent need for the summit.

North Korea had sharply criticized 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.