HispanicBusiness

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern on Friday about North Korea's threat to use nuclear weapons, warning that the international community will not allow themselves to be put under pressure.

Speaking at a regular government press briefing, Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said the chancellor was "very concerned" about Pyongyang's statements.

He said the UN Security Council's latest decisions on sanctions made clear that the world is unimpressed by threats of war and called on North Korea to restore its hotline to Seoul.

Seibert stressed that the international community, despite the recent escalation of tensions was still open to talks with North Korea.

"If the North Korean regime decides that it wants to fulfill its responsibility to its own people and the world, then it only has to stretch out its hand," Seibert said.