'Significant steps' on peninsula

US assistant secretary of state says China has put pressure on DPRK

WASHINGTON - China has taken "significant steps" to help solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, a senior US State Department official said on Wednesday.

In a conference call with reporters on US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip to Southeast Asia, Susan Thornton, acting assistant secretary of state, said that the United States had seen "significant steps ... frankly, unprecedented steps" by China to increase pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We see a growing determination on their part to take steps to try to address the situation seriously," said Thornton.

"We and China have the same goal, which is denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," she added.

It was the second time in two days that US State Department had contradicted US President Donald Trump's recent rant that China does "do NOTHING for us ... just talk" on the nuclear issue.

On Tuesday, Tillerson said to achieve the goal of denuclearization on the peninsula, the US seeks to "partner with China", and that Washington doesn't blame Beijing for the situation on the peninsula.

Tillerson's remarks came days after the DPRK launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile in a month, following the first launch on July 4.

The DPRK confirmed its second ICBM test firing on Saturday was simulating its maximum range, which it said can cover all the territories of the US.

China has always called for negotiated solutions to the nuclear issue on the peninsula.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Monday that China is firmly opposed to any violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, including nuclear tests and ballistic missile tests by the DPRK.

China has been urging the DPRK and other relevant countries not to exacerbate the situation on the peninsula by avoiding words and actions that could escalate regional tensions, which run counter to the objectives sought by the UN Security Council.

China has been working with Russia to put forth a road map for achieving regional peace, Liu said.

Xinhua

(China Daily USA 08/04/2017 page2)