国际英语新闻:UN chief urges peaceful solution to Korean Peninsula issue

UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A UN spokesperson reiterated on Monday that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes there can only be a peaceful solution through the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, calling for resumption of talks.

In response to a question at the daily news briefing about the widely reported missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "As the Secretary-General has made clear, he believes that there can only be a peaceful solution through the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

"He calls upon the parties concerned to take the necessary steps to facilitate the resumption of negotiations," Dujarric said.

The DPRK on Sunday fired two short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast after firing three short-range projectiles, the Republic of Korea (ROK) military said.

The DPRK test-fired three short-range projectiles Thursday. The country's official news agency KCNA said the test came at a time when the United States, the ROK and other allied forces were becoming "extremely reckless in the moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and unleash a war of aggression."

Animosity has been running high on the Korean Peninsula after the two sides exchanged artillery shells on the disputed western sea border on May 22, about two months after trading hundreds of artillery shells in late March.