Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN. (Photo: Foreign Ministry official website)

 
China has reaffirmed that dialogue and consultation are the only way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue, urging the US side to take action, show sincerity, and create conditions for the resumption of dialogue.

"All parties concerned should focus on the overall situation of peace and stability on the Peninsula and prevent the situation from escalating, " Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said at Wednesday's UN council on the situation of the Peninsula. The UN members met after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Tuesday. 

Geng said that China has noticed North Korea's recent missile launches, and also noticed the joint military drills held by the US and other countries in the region. Geng said the recent strengthening of the US'  military alliance in the Asia-Pacific region heightened the risk of military confrontation, practiced double standards on the nuclear issue, and poisoned the regional security environment. Against this background, the situation on the Peninsula inevitably becomes tense, Geng said.

"Historical experience shows that dialogue and consultation are the only correct way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. If the dialogue progresses smoothly, the situation on the Peninsula will be relatively stable; if the dialogue stalls or even reverses, the situation on the Peninsula will escalate," Geng said. 

"We call on the US side to take action, show its sincerity and effectively address the legitimate and reasonable concerns of the North Korean side, in order to create the conditions for the resumption of dialogue," he said.

Geng also stressed that the UN Security Council should play a constructive role on the Korean Peninsula issue, and should not blindly exert force and pressure. As a close neighbor, China pays close attention to the situation on the Peninsula and will always insist on maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula, realizing the denuclearization of the Peninsula and resolving issues through dialogue and consultation.