SEOUL • North Korea's external propaganda media yesterday lashed out at recent decisions by South Korea and the United States to launch a working group on the North's denuclearisation and resume a joint marine drill.

Yonhap news agency reported Uriminzokkiri, a website run by Pyongyang, as saying the working group plan underlines a ''wicked US intent'' to hinder and destroy inter-Korean cooperation projects.

''The US is about to set up an organ to directly monitor and control inter-Korean relations. It's an arrogant act. There are no grounds for the US to intervene in the affairs between South and North Korea,'' said the website in a commentary.

Seoul and Washington agreed last week to launch a joint working group for discussions on denuclearisation, a peace regime and sanctions on the North.

On Monday, the allies resumed the Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP), which involves some 500 troops, and equipment.

The Pyongyang website went on to warn that the public's anti-US sentiment will only intensify as long as the US interferes in inter-Korean ties, according to Yonhap.

It also accused South Korea of blindly obeying the US' arrogant and gangster-like acts.

''The authorities in South Korea should thoroughly implement inter-Korean joint declarations, instead of succumbing to the US, if they have a willingness to write a new history in inter-Korean relations,'' the website said.

Meari, another propaganda website run by the North, denounced the resumption of the KMEP after a lapse of six months, saying the joint drill runs counter to the inter-Korean military agreement and threatens peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap reported