DPRK takes active diplomacy to break from isolation: S.Korean FM

South Korea's top diplomat said Wednesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has recently taken active diplomatic moves to break from isolation and reduce economic difficulties.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made the remarks at a forum held in Seoul, citing its recent efforts to improve ties with Russia and Japan along with its senior diplomats' expected visits to Europe and the United States, according to local media reports.

Kang Sok-ju, an experienced DPRK diplomat and secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea for foreign affairs, was reportedly expected to visit Europe for about 10 days from this week while the DPRK's Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong is expected to make a trip to the United States to attend this year's meeting of the UN General Assembly later this month.

Yun said that the DPRK was in a more diplomatically-isolated and economically-difficult situation than ever as the international community's collaboration and sanctions have persisted against its nuclear and missile issues.

South Korea will seek to encourage the DPRK to become a responsible member of the international society by coordinating with China and the United States, said the minister.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have raised as DPRK threatened to conduct a "new form" of nuclear test and fire more than 100 missiles and artillery shells in 2014 alone.

Yun added that the more the DPRK tries to own nuclear weapons, the more it should pay costs than gain benefits, urging Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.