SEOUL—North Korea March 13 urged South Koreans to reject “outside forces” and drop its “subservience” toward the United States as it withdrew from ministerial talks with South Korea.

The rare, special broadcast aimed at South Koreans, was made 30 minutes before North Korea postponed key inter-Korean talks due to start in Seoul March 13.

“The basic requirement in implementing the North-South joint declaration is that all the members of the Korean nation should arm themselves with national self-reliance and reject subservience and reliance on outside forces,” North Korea’s Radio Pyongyang said.

The broadcast said the Korean people must “not rely on others but use their own judgment and will” in seeking inter-Korean rapprochement.

The implementation of the declaration made at an historic inter-Korean summit last June is a “sacred task” that would end the tragic division of Korea since 1945.

The reference to “outside forces” by the North traditionally means the United States. Such broadcasts to the South have been rare, even before last year’s historic summit between the leaders of the rival Koreas which brought a halt to their propaganda war.

North Korea pulled out of the Seoul talks following a summit between the U.S. and South Korean leaders last week at which U.S. President George W. Bush signaled a tougher line with the communist North.