Joint efforts can ease tensions on peninsula

Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in's four-day visit to China from Wednesday will help allay bilateral concerns, and provide an occasion for the two sides to find ways to ease the tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Disregarding the strong condemnations from the international community, and the United States' hint at using force against it, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has continued conducting missile tests, heightening the tensions on the peninsula. After Pyongyang tested "Hwasong-15", an intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov 29, claiming it could strike the US mainland, Washington seemed almost intent on waging a war on Pyongyang.

Of late, Washington has asked China to stop exporting oil to the DPRK, and called on other countries to impose stricter sanctions or cut off ties with Pyongyang. Also, the US and the ROK held a large-scale air force drill from Dec 4 to 8, which further infuriated the DPRK and worsened the already high tensions on the peninsula. If this tit-for-tat game between the two sides continues, it could spark a conflict, which would be to no country's benefit.