UN chief urges peaceful solution to Korean Peninsula issue

, July 1: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon believes that there can only be a peaceful solution through the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, calling for resumption of talks.

"The secretary general calls upon the parties concerned to take the necessary steps to facilitate the resumption of negotiations," Xinhua quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying.

North Korea on Sunday fired two short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast, South Korean military said.

North Korea test-fired three short-range projectiles on Thursday.

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

IANS