Commentary: New UN Security Council resolution on DPRK not go-ahead for further confrontation

The latest United Nations Security Council resolution on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is aimed at promoting denuclearization, and should not be interpretted as a marching order for further confrontation.

The resolution, in response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s recent atomic bomb test and satellite launch, required a tougher-than-ever set of sanctions on the import and export of arms by the DPRK in order to curb its missile tests and atomic weapons programs.

The resolution was created with the consensus of not only the 15-member UN Security Council, but also the international community. Everyone, it seems, wants to promote denuclearization on the peninsula.

However, a comprehensive denuclearization demands Washington and Pyongyang exercise strategic patience and engage in dialogue despite their sharp divisions.

The DPRK said it would not abandon its nuclear program until it gets ample security assurance from the United States, while the latter vowed not to terminate its stick-brandishing policies and practices until the DPRK stoops to compromise.

A regrettable fact, however, is that Washington, with its pervasive prejudice against Pyongyang wrought from its Cold War mentality, has accused the DPRK of arousing tensions with reckless nuclear provocations, while in deliberate ignorance of its own threatening behaviors against the DPRK, such as dispatching a B-52 bomber, the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS North Carolina, and nuclear-powered supercarrier John C. Stennis to South Korea and its nearby waters.

It would also be wrong to assume that China's yes vote to the UN resolution means that China is now taking a tougher stance against the DPRK.

On the one hand, China, supportive of the Security Council's necessary response to the DPRK's nuclear program that has violated the UN Security Council's previous resolutions, will scrupulously abide by the new consensus as a responsible UN Security Council member.

On the other hand, it is China's unwavering point of view that mere sanctions would not create lasting peace on the peninsula and should not signal the termination of international efforts to loosen the deadlock.

On the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, the utmost task for the international community must be to encourage the resumption of China-proposed six-party talks, which is the only viable forum that meets the interests of all parties, including the United States and the DPRK.

Furthermore, China has long called for the Korean peninsula to be denuclearized and for creating a mechanism aimed at replacing the Korean armistice with a peace agreement.

Achieving both will bring sustained peace and stability to the region. China is willing to work with other parties to explore ways to achieve these goals.

The sensitive situation on the Korean peninsula demands all sides adopt responsible approaches and give peace a chance. Brinksmanship would only further complicate matters and even make the situation on the Korean peninsula out of control. Endi