North Korea halts U.S. delegation

WASHINGTON -- North Korea has called off a visit by a group of former U.S. ambassadors, apparently because of President Bush's harsh words about the country, members of the unofficial delegation said Saturday.

The trip had been arranged at North Korea's invitation as a way to expand informal dialogue between two countries locked in a hostile relationship. But North Korean officials told the ex-diplomats on Friday not to come.

The delegates, who included four former ambassadors to South Korea, had planned to meet senior North Korean officials later this month. They attributed the cancellation to President Bush's criticism of North Korea in his State of the Union speech.

"They probably found it very offensive," said William H. Gleysteen, envoy to South Korea during the Carter administration.