North Korea seeks better ties with US, nuclear-free peninsula

''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 DPRK (North Korea) and the USA,'' Pyongyang said in a joint New Year editorial with Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Xinhua reported.

"It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to establish a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula and make it nuclear-free through dialogue and negotiations," the editorial said.

"The Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK will strive to develop relations of good-neighbourliness and friendship with other countries and achieve global independence under the unfurled banner of independence, peace and friendship," it said.

The call came as Washington is trying to get the state to return to the stalled six-party talks. Pyongyang quit the multilateral talks last year in anger over international criticism of its long-range rocket test.