When sanctions and dialogues are combined, the Korean Peninsula issue can be unlocked, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a press conference. This followed his meeting with Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara in Beijing on Thursday.
He said China has firmly opposed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) recent nuclear test, which seriously violated the UN Security Council's resolution, and shaken the international nuclear non-proliferation system.
"We hope that the DPRK would recognize the situation, make the right judgments and choices, stop insisting on it and challenging the consensus and bottom line of the international community," Wang said.
Wang stressed that China would support the UN Security Council further responses and take necessary measures regarding the new developments on the Korean Peninsula. China will keep in close contact with all sides in an objective, fair, and responsible manner.
"We believe that sanctions and pressure are just half of the key to the problem, and the other half is dialogue and negotiation," Wang said. "Only by combining these two together will it be possible to unlock the Korean Peninsula issue."
Therefore, any new move taken by the international community toward the DPRK should be aimed at both stopping its nuclear missiles and promoting the restart of conversations. There should be efforts on both sides, Wang said. "We hope the members of the Council will remain united, reach a consensus, and form a consistent voice on this issue."
