N Korea angered over US 'hostility'

North Korea has accused the US of continuing its hostile policy after President Barack Obama nominated a special envoy on Pyongyang's human rights record.

The nomination 'testifies that the US is not confining its hostile policy towards our republic to the nuclear area, but is trying to extend it to the human rights area', the cabinet newspaper Minju Joson said on Thursday.

Two weeks ago, Robert King was named Obama's special envoy on North Korean human rights issues.

"It is not a secret that the US has used its 'human rights diplomacy' as an important policy tool to interfere with internal affairs of other countries and to achieve its goal to invade and control them," said the article which was carried by the North's official website, Uriminzokkiri.

The paper described what it called US human rights offensive as 'nothing but a euphemism for its policy to stifle' Pyongyang and insisted there were no human rights problems in the country.

King replaced Jay Lefkowitz, who left his post in January after serving under former president George W. Bush.

Once confirmed by the Senate, King will work as part of a team headed by the special representative for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth.