Chinese president wants to use 'Korean rest'

beijing - Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on his US counterpart Donald Trump to use the current relaxation in relations with North Korea to restart talks with Pyongyang. He did that in a telephone conversation with Trump.

All parties should jointly endeavor to use the 'hard-to-reach calmer in the situation on the Korean Peninsula' to get the talks going, Xi said.

The two Koreas have had direct talks for the first time in two years last Tuesday. They were about North Korea and the Winter Olympics next month in South Korea. The consultations came after months of rising tensions, including missile testing by North Korea.