Tensions ease on peninsula, ministry says

Senior diplomats have embarked on a new round of talks to tackle the simmering tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with frequent phone conversations taking place in the past 48 hours to exchange views among the major parties involved.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Vice-Foreign Minister Lim Sungnam spoke with his US counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, on Tuesday night for about 15 minutes.

According to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, Sullivan emphasized that it is Washington's stance to seek all diplomatic and economic measures to "peacefully" resolve the problem.