PYONGYANG (XINHUA) - The official media of North Korea on Saturday (March 10) said neither military pressure nor sanctions from the United States would work on the country, amid reports that Pyongyang and Washington could start a top-level dialogue soon.

The official Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary that the United States recently declared that it would impose sanctions on 56 designations under the pretext of preventing North Korea from "attempting at evasion of sanctions".

Calling this "an open violation of international laws and an encroachment upon the sovereignty of the DPRK," the commentary said the United States tries to "isolate and stifle the DPRK through sanctions and blockade and weaken it in a bid to bring it under control with ease."

DPRK is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"It is now making desperate efforts to stifle the DPRK while getting keen on the racket for sanctions and military pressure on the DPRK. But the army and the people of the DPRK will never be browbeaten," said the daily of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

North Korea has not yet responded to the announcement made by South Korea and the United States that it has proposed to hold a North Korean-US summit meeting by May.