China calls for restraint, dialogue on Korean Peninsula issue
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China Tuesday urged all parties involved in the Korean Peninsula situation to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid future unfortunate incidents.
"The Korean Peninsula situation is still complicated and sensitive," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing as she called on all parties to have a responsible attitude.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) staged live-fire artillery drills in the sensitive area of Yeonpyeong Island on Monday. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) did not launch an attack in response to the ROK drill.
China hopes all sides engaged keep in contact and resume dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible, Jiang said.
She added that the parties concerned should resolve their concerns in a balanced way through the six-party talks framework and in line with the Sept. 19 Joint Statement.
Preserving peace and stability on the Peninsula is in the interests of all, she said, adding that China will always play a constructive role.
Launched in 2003 but stalled since the end of 2008, the six-party talks involve China, Russia, the United States, Japan, the DPRK and the ROK.
"All sides should realize that dialogue and negotiation - rather than war and weapons - are the right ways to work out the Korean Peninsula issue," she said.
The United Nations Security Council met for eight hours on Sunday in a closed-door session. There, representatives of the DPRK and the ROK voiced their respective positions.
Jiang described the meeting as "positive" as Security Council members, including China, the U.S. and Russia, made endeavors to avoid future military conflict on the Peninsula.
"We hope the Security Council urges the concerned parties to exercise the maximum restraint while refraining from behavior that may escalate tensions. We also hope talks are resumed at an early date to resolve the problem in a peaceful manner," she said.
China always participates in Security Council discussions in a constructive manner, she said, adding that China hopes to continue to communicate with other parties.
Jiang said the current situation highlights the necessity and urgency of emergency consultations between the heads of the six-party delegations.
China suggested emergency consultations in Beijing in early December between the chief negotiators of the six-party talks after the DPRK's artillery bombardment of a ROK border island that killed two marines and two civilians on Nov. 23.
"Based on our communication with other parties, we find they generally recognize China's view but differ on details," she said.
Bill Richardson, governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico, who recently visited the DPRK as a private citizen, said he was "satisfied" with his visit to the country.
China always supports contact between the U.S. and the DPRK, Jiang said. "We hope such contact results in a restarting of the six-party talks that achieves a solution to the Korean Peninsula issue."
Reaffirming China's commitment to the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization, Jiang said the DPRK has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with the Sept. 19 Joint Statement, though adding that the DPRK has to accept IAEA monitoring.
"We hope the issue can be solved within the six-party talks framework," Jiang said.
