Push for Korean Peninsula talks 'welcome'

Beijing said on Friday that it welcomed all efforts to pull the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue back to the negotiation table after Russia said Pyongyang wanted direct talks with Washington.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States, as parties directly involved, should make contact and solve related issues through dialogue and negotiations," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, noting that the nuclear issue is a security issue, and the core is the conflict between the two sides.

Geng also said Beijing has been constantly working toward this end by having communications with both Pyongyang and Washington.