North Korea says U.N. envoy expressed willingness to ease tensions

The U.N. political affairs chief expressed willingness to ease tension on the Korean peninsula during a visit to North Korea this week, state media says, amid a rising war of words over the North’s missile and nuclear programmes.
Samantha Vadas reports.
It was the first U.N. visit to North Korea in years. Political Affairs Chief Jeffrey Feltman returning from his four day trip to Pyongyang on Saturday (December 9), where state media says he expressed willingness to ease tension on the Korean peninsula.
It also said the U.N. envoy acknowledged the negative impact of sanctions on humanitarian aid to the country. Feltman's the highest-level U.N. official to visit North Korea since 2012. Footage released by state media shows him touring hospitals in Pyongyang, as well as inspecting a food factory in the capital.
His trip was set against the backdrop of military drills by Washington and Seoul over the Korean peninsula, which the North calls a prelude to nuclear war.
North Korea regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and the U.S., saying its weapons programs are necessary to counter American aggression.