News In Brief

Chernenko interview sparks US rebuttal on arms talks

The Reagan administration reacted to Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko's statement that his country is seeking a dialogue with the United States by charging that it breaks no new ground and is based on a false assessment of US policy.

In an interview with the Communist Party newspaper Pravda, Chernenko said that the US stalled the disarmament talks and then scuttled them by deploying new medium-range nuclear missiles in Western Europe (story, page 13). But Chernenko added, ''I want to reaffirm with all certainty our readiness for dialogue, for honest and serious talks....''

State Department spokeswoman Sondra McCarty said his words were in conflict with Soviet refusal to accept the US offer for arms talks.