North Korea Calls for Peace With U.S. in New Year Message

The North Korean government called for an end to hostile relations with the United States in its annual New Year message, the Times of London reports. The regime's statement said it was committed to a "peace strategy" for the Korean peninsula and to ending the nuclear threats for which it has become infamous.

"The fundamental task for ensuring peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the rest of Asia is to put an end to the hostile relationship between North Korea and the U.S.," the statement said. Pyongyang added that it hoped to achieve "a lasting peace system" and to make the Korean peninsula "nuclear-free through dialogue and negotiations."

The United States responded by suggesting that North Korea return to "six-party talks" -- negotiations over its nuclear program involving the U.S., South Korea, China, Russia and Japan. "Actions speak louder than words," a State Department official said.