China urges dialogue after UN condemns DPRK launch

BEIJING - China on Monday called for more dialogue and consultations after the UN Security Council strongly condemned a failed satellite launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"It has been proven that dialogue and consultation are the only right way to solve problems," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin, highlighting the importance of the talks held between the DPRK and the United States in February.

The DPRK announced on February 29 that it would suspend nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and uranium enrichment activities after talks with US officials held in China from February 23 to 24.

Liu made the remark after the 15-nation UN body issued a presidential statement stating that the DPRK's April 13 launch raised "grave security concerns" and demanding that Pyongyang fully comply with relevant Security Council resolutions.

Liu said the statement was the result of consultations by all members of the the UN Security Council and reflects the consensus of the international community.

"China participated in the Security Council consultations in a responsible and constructive way," Liu said, adding that China believes that Security Council should make more efforts to promote dialogue and maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Liu said that the Chinese government believes it is in the common interest of all relevant parties to resume the six-party talks and continue to make efforts to denuclearize the peninsula.

"China is willing to keep in close touch with all parties concerned to push the six-party talks forward and make unswerving efforts to realize long-lasting peace on the peninsula," he added.