1st LD Writethru: Chinese FM calls for non-proliferation efforts, peace talks on Korean Peninsula

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday that efforts on non-proliferation and promotion of peace talks have to be strengthened so as to bring the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula to a peaceful settlement.

Due to the recent actions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the international community should step up efforts of non-proliferation, Wang told reporters here ahead of a UN Security Council ministerial meeting on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Due to the heightened tension on the Peninsula, China proposes at the same time to step up efforts to promote peace talks, he added.

Wang expressed the hope that the Security Council will have a thorough discussion and reach new consensus at the meeting on how to fully and comprehensively implement Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK, to ease the current tension on the peninsula as soon as possible, and to identify effective channels to peacefully address the issue.

On how to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said China has already proposed a "two-track approach," namely to make parallel progress on the two tracks of denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the peninsula.

As the first step of the "two-track approach," China has come up with the "double suspension" proposal: the DPRK suspends its nuclear and missile development activities, the United States and the Republic of Korea suspend their large-scale military exercises, Wang said.

"By doing so, we hope to address the most pressing concerns of the parties and also identify a place of breakthrough to resume the peace talks," said Wang.

"This proposal of China is sensible and reasonable and is gaining the understanding and support from an increasing number of countries in the world," said Wang. "We hope this idea will be studied seriously by the parties."

On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said China's position has been consistent and clear-cut, namely to stay committed to two basic directions no matter what happens.

The first direction is to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, said Wang.

The second is to uphold peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and not to allow chaos or war to break out, he said.

Therefore, a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations is the only right choice that is practical and viable, Wang added. Endi