Pyongyang, December 10 (KCNA) -- A senior official of the Palestinian Liberation Organization in a press conference on Tuesday censured the U.S. for obstructing Palestine for pursuing UN membership.

The U.S. is forcing Palestine to resume direct negotiations with Israel and, at the same time, blocking a UN Security Council vote on Palestinian statehood, he charged.

The Palestinian National Authority will not resume direct negotiations with Israel unless preconditions are met, he said. "We will continue to pursue for membership at the United Nations."