News Analysis: New UN resolution on DPRK aims for peace on Korean peninsula

The new UN Security Council resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) imposes harsh sanctions, but such measures are not the goal in itself and instead, they are jsut means to change the dynamics regarding the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.

China, a major player in promoting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, has repeatedly said it opposes any unilateral move that escalates tension on the peninsula, insisting the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula be resolved via dialogue.

Between 2005 and 2007, talks among the six parties had reached concrete results toward denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.

The six-party talks, a multilateral dialogue mechanism brokered by China in efforts to seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, involves the United States, Russia and Japan, as well as the two sides on the Korean peninsula.

Experts said that under the current situation, the six-party talks are still a practical means to realize denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his recent visit to Washington, put forward a proposal of pursuing parallel tracks on the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula: the denuclearization and the replacement of the Korean armistice with a peace agreement.

Experts in China, while agreeing on the importance of reviving the six-party talks, highlighted China's proposal for moving on parallel tracks to seek a final solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula

In the past eight years since the six-party talks stalled, the DPRK has conducted several nuclear tests that prompted UN sanctions.

The DPRK, in defiance of relevant UN sanctions, has been going too far in pursuit of nuclear capabilities over years, noted Wang Junsheng, a researcher at the Institute of International Strategy with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

But "it is barely viable to rely on sanctions to dissuade the DPRK from conducting nuclear tests," Wang said.

Zhao Tong, a researcher at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy, said that the upcoming sanctions will weigh heavily on the DPRK's national economy as well as its diplomatic ties with other countries. If not followed by talks, such measures could push the DPRK to go further challenging non-proliferation restrictions.

Although the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed more than 60 years ago, the warring parties have not yet signed a peace agreement. "So technically the war is not over," said Zhao.

Over the years, the DPRK has repeatedly asked to replace the armistice agreement with a peace deal, but the United States insists that the DPRK should first fulfill commitment to abandoning its nuclear programs, before there is any discussion on signing a peace agreement.

Given rising tension on the peninsula, Zhao said the concerned parties, the United States and the DPRK in particular, should thoroughly reflect on their policies and take practical measures to avoid triggering a vicious circle.

Concerned parties should give serious consideration to China's proposal for holding talks on parallel tracks, because this idea is not only in conformity with the general direction of denuclearization, but also address main concerns of all parties, he added.

China's proposal could help eliminate the Cold War-style rhetorics in the region and guide developments on the Korean peninsula in a right direction, said Wang, a researcher with the CASS. Endi