North Korea proposes talks with US

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL AND EDITED KRT MATERIAL

ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION

North Korea on Sunday (June 16) proposed high-level talks with the United States, a week after it scrapped planned official talks with South Korea for the first time in over two years.

"(We) propose high-level talks between the North Korean and U.S. governments to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and establish regional peace and security," said the North's sate run television KRT news reader quoting a spokesman of the North's National Defence Commission.

KRT added that Washington could pick a date and place for the talks and the two sides could discuss a range of issues but that no preconditions should be attached.

Earlier this year, North Korea threatened nuclear and missile strikes against South Korea and the United States after it was hit with U.N. sanctions for its February nuclear weapons test.