China urges resumed negotiations

BEIJING - China on Thursday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to resume their dialogue and improve their relationship as the ROK's chief nuclear negotiator arrived in Beijing.

"We always support reconciliation and cooperation between the DPRK and the ROK," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu at the regular news briefing.

"We hope the two sides can maintain the momentum of dialogue and contact, meet each other halfway and work together to play a constructive role in improving relations and safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula," he said after the collapse of working-level military talks that were aimed at easing tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang.