Merkel says treat North Korea like Iran

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pointed to the negotiations that led to Iran curtailing its nuclear programme as a possible model for tackling the North Korea crisis.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper yesterday, Mrs Merkel stressed that a diplomatic solution is the only viable way to resolve the problem.

She added: “If our participation in talks is wanted, I will say yes immediately.”

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany conducted longrunning talks with Iran that led to a 2015 deal for sanctions to be lifted in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear activities.

Mrs Merkel said: “I could also imagine such a format to settle the North Korea conflict.”