The ceremony, set for the truce village of Panmunjom in the buffer zone that divides the two Koreas, is due to be held on July 27, the 50th anniversary of the signing of an armistice agreement (AA) to end the war.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that North Korea would not attend the event in a report titled "US forces side's 'invitation' declined."

"Recently the US forces side announced that an 'event' would be held in Panmunjom to mark the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean armistice agreement," the report said.

"And it oddly invited the Korean People's Army side to this 'event' to be attended by delegates of those countries which joined the US side in the last Korean War."

North Korea, backed by China, fought against the US-led United Nations command that backed South Korea during the war.

Some 1,500 veterans from 21 nations who supported the United Nations side are expected to attend the ceremony.

KCNA accused the United States of pretending to promote reconciliation and trust while "committing crimes against the Korean people even at this moment".

It said the head of the Korean People's Army mission at Panmunjom had sent a message to US forces Friday complaining about US "gross violations" of the armistice agreement by planning an arms build-up on the Korean peninsula and implementing a blockade of the North.

The message accused the United States of preparing an arms build-up and a blockade of North Korea in violation of the armistice agreement.

It said the United States should respect the agreement instead of "mocking" North Korea, a fellow signatory to the accord, with insincere invitations.

WAR.WIRE