N Korea welcomes UN call for talks

North Korea welcomes UN Security Council’s call for direct talks to ease tensions in the Korean Peninsula over the sinking of the South’s warship.

Tensions between the two countries further increased after the sinking of a South Korean warship, Cheonan, back in March that killed 46 sailors.

Seoul says North Korea has targeted the warship.

The UN on Friday refrained from blaming North Korea and instead called for direct talks to settle any dispute with Seoul.

After the UN statement, the North Korean Foreign Ministry said that the country is ready and wants to continue negotiations through six-party talks. It also called to extend the scope of talks to include the regional nuclear issue and a peace treaty.

The North said the statement exposes the “foolish calculation” of the US and South Korea in bringing the issue to the UN.

It also warned of “strong physical retaliation” if they press on with countermeasures over the sinking, AFP reported.

The North abandoned the six-party talks in April 2009. It calls for talks on a formal peace treaty with the US and an end to sanctions before resuming the talks.