Kerry: N. Korea must show ‘good faith’

(Vatican Radio) North Korea today marked the anniversary of the birth of its founder, without the military activity that some observers had expected.

Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State John Kerry wound up a four-day tour of Asia, with talks in Japan. He underscored an offer of talks with North Korea.

Kerry State said Washington is open to holding what he called "authentic" negotiations with North Korea, but it must show "good faith" and take steps towards giving up its nuclear weapons.

Kerry said the last thing the world needs is "one or two states bucking the trend of history and common sense." He said he welcomed China's commitment to removing nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, in Pyongyang, North Korean state television showed leader Kim Jong-un paying tribute at his grandfather’s mausoleum, Kim Il-sung, the founder of the communist state, born 101 years ago.

Marking the occasion, another senior official declared that North Korea would never give up its weapons; rather, Kim Yong-nam said, it would now expand its nuclear arsenal.

But ally China is already showing signs of exerting greater pressure on North Korea. An editorial in a Chinese state newspaper Monday said when tensions run high for too long bad things always happen.

Listen to the report by Alastair Wanklyn: