UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Seoul and Pyongyang to hold talks to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
 
UN Spokesperson Eri Kaneko said during a regular press briefing on Friday, that Ban is “deeply concerned” by the recent development on the Korean Peninsula.
 
Noting that the UN chief has “closely followed the reports,” Kaneko said Ban “urges the parties to refrain from taking any further measures that might increase tension.”
 
The spokesperson added that the UN chief also “calls on parties to engage in dialogue to reduce tension and to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
 
The latest appeal comes amid escalating tension between the two Koreas, spurred by a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on August 4 which injured two South Korean soldiers. South Korea has since resumed its military loudspeaker broadcasting and in retaliation the North launched artillery attacks.