China: UN should help solve Korean nuclear issue

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-15 21:06

China hopes the UN Security Council will move to indicate the firm stand of the international community and help create conditions for peaceful solution of the Korean nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Sunday.

Liu made the remark when commenting on the UN Security Council resolution concerning the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on October 9.

China hopes that while representing the firm stand of the international community, the UN Security Council resolution should also create favorable conditions for peacefully solving the issue through dialogue and negotiations, Liu said.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and eight other nations, condemns the nuclear test proclaimed by the DPRK, demands that the DPRK eliminate its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs, and imposes sanctions on the DPRK in spheres related to its nuclear, ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction.

"China is resolutely opposed to the nuclear test by the DPRK, and determined to achieve a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula peacefully through dialogue and consultation," Liu said.

Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asia region also conforms to the common interests of the international community, Liu said.

"China participated in preparing the UN resolution with these principles in mind," he said.

The UN resolution also welcomes and encourages further efforts by all states concerned to intensify their diplomatic efforts, refrain from any actions that might aggravate tension and to facilitate the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

The resolution makes it clear that the council will suspend or lift sanctions against the DPRK if it complies with the relevant requests of the resolution, according to Wang Guangya, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN.

China urges the parties concerned to take a prudent and responsible attitude in this regard and refrain from taking any step that may intensify the tensions, Liu said.

The six parties, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, converged five rounds of talks aiming to settle the nuclear issue of Korean Peninsula.

The talks stalled after the DPRK criticized the United States for imposing economic sanctions after the first phase of the fifth round of talks ended last November.

"China is willing to make joint efforts with concerned parties to work for an early resumption of the six-party talks," Liu said.