Although it has played down this notion, it has not rejected it and has in fact taken steps towards being one.

On Friday, in a significant development, German Foreign Minister talked to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the North Korea crisis, said Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

On Wednesday Germany had stated it would do everything it can to defuse tensions between the China-backed rogue state and the U.S.

Germany has played down the notion that it could be play the rike of a mediator between Pyongyang and Washington, after hosting talks between the two a decade ago.