Resolve N Korea row through talks, China tells UN
North Korea could be provocative and a troublemaker but the current tense situation in the Korean Peninsula should only be resolved through dialogue whatever the crisis, China conveyed to the UN on Saturday. Sutirtho Patranobis reports.
North Korea could be provocative and a troublemaker but the current tense situation in the Korean Peninsula should only be resolved through dialogue whatever the crisis, China conveyed to the UN on Saturday.
In a late evening phone conversation between foreign minister, Wang Yi and UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, Wang said that only dialogue should resolve the situation “no matter how the situation may develop.”
The Chinese minister, however, noted, rather uncharacteristically, that China will not allow any “troublemaking” near its border.
He said that Beijing opposes any provocative words and actions from any party in the region and does not allow troublemaking at the doorsteps of China.
“He said that Beijing opposes any provocative words and actions from any party in the region and does not allow troublemaking at the doorsteps of China,” state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Wang as saying.
It is rare for China, which is North Korea’s biggest ally and aid supplier, to directly criticise Pyongyang. But North Korea’s recent statements about launching nuclear missiles and imminent war have forced China to take a more critical view of its diplomatic relations with its neighbour.
China, Wang said, urges all the relevant parties to keep calm and restrained and help ease the tensions.
“China calls for the restoration of six-party talks and to bring the issue back to the track of dialogue,” he added.
Ban, according to Xinhua, expressed deep concern and worry over the rising tensions on the Korea Peninsula and hoped the situation would soon cool down in order to prevent events from spinning out of control.
Meanwhile, many countries have refused to withdraw their diplomats from North Korea despite Pyongyang issuing instructions for an evacuation.
According to agency copies, the DPRK foreign ministry on Friday had informed a number of foreign embassies and representatives of international organisations that they would be unable to guarantee their safety.
The countries include the US, Russia, France and Brazil.
“UN staff in the DPRK remain engaged in their humanitarian and development work throughout the country,” UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky said.
According to UN officials, there are currently 36 international staff members and 21 local employees working for seven different UN agencies and programs in the DPRK.