U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Wednesday said that he does not take "direction from" North Korea's first vice foreign minister, dismissing suggestions that the purpose of his visit to South Korea this week was to meet his DPRK counterparts.

Speaking to press following meetings with local officials Wednesday morning, Biegun -- who arrived in South Korea yesterday -- insisted that plans for his visit had not been affected by DPRK diplomat Choe Son Hui's insistence last week that Pyongyang was no longer interested in talks with the U.S.