Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang

Jan. 25, 2013 (TSR) – A Foreign Ministry spokesman called for calm and restraint from all concerned parties on Thursday after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) vowed to conduct “a higher-level nuclear test.”

“It is in the common interests of all parties concerned to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and achieve the denuclearization of the peninsula,” spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

“(We) hope all concerned parties will keep calm and act in a cautious and prudent way, as well as refrain from taking any action that could lead to the progressive escalation of tensions,” the spokesman said.

The DPRK National Defense Commission issued a statement in response to a resolution adopted Tuesday by the UN Security Council that condemns a DPRK satellite launch that took place in December 2012.

“We will not hide the fact that a variety of satellites and long-range rockets will be launched and a nuclear test of a higher level will be carried out during the next phase of the anti-U.S. struggle,” said in their official statement.

China made an official statement and reason for their vote on the UN Security Council Resolution:

On the early morning of January 23, 2013 Beijing time, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2087 on the DPRK’s satellite launch.

China has made its position clear on many occasions since the DPRK’s satellite launch on December 12, 2012. It is regrettable that the DPRK did so regardless of international concerns. At the same time, China believes that the UN Security Council’s reaction should be prudent, moderate and conducive to peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula so as to avoid escalating the tension. Based on the above position, China has taken a constructive part in relevant consultations of the Security Council.

Resolution 2087 of the Security Council is the outcome of repeated consultations. Being overall balanced, it demonstrates the international community’s position on the DPRK’s satellite launch and sends a positive message which calls for peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and negotiation as well as the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

We hope that all parties will bear in mind peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, keep calm, exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could escalate the tension. It serves the interests of all parties.

The DPRK’s satellite launch once again underscores the urgency and necessity of fundamentally resolving the Korean Peninsula issue. China always maintains that disputes should be defused through dialogue and consultation, all parties’ concerns should be addressed in a comprehensive and balanced manner, and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula should be peacefully resolved so as to denuclearize the Peninsula and realize lasting peace and stability of the Peninsula and Northeast Asia. The Six-Party Talks is an effective mechanism for the realization of the above goals. Together with the international community, China would like to press ahead with the Six-Party talks and work constructively for peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

The 15-member UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Resolution 2087, which requires the DPRK to comply with all relevant resolutions approved by the Security Council and to refrain from using ballistic missile technology for any launches.

The resolution also suggests seeking a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution for related issues and advocates the renewal of the six-party talks.

The National Defense Commission also declared that the six-party talks, as well as a related Sept. 19, 2005 joint statement, will “no longer exist,” adding that the UN Security Council “has been reduced to an organization bereft of impartiality and balance.”

Hong said the six-party talks are still an effective mechanism to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula.

The six-party talks, a negotiation mechanism that includes the DPRK, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the United States, China, Japan and Russia, were launched in 2003, but stalled in December 2008. The DPRK quit the talks in April 2009.

Hong said all concerned parties should boost dialogues in order to address their concerns, as well as implement all of the goals set in the Sept. 19, 2005 joint statement.

In the joint statement, the DPRK committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and returning, at an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

The United States affirmed that it has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has no intention to attack or invade the DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons. The ROK reaffirmed its commitment not to receive or deploy nuclear weapons in accordance with the 1992 Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, while also affirming that no nuclear weapons exist within its territory.

“China is ready to make joint efforts with the international community to achieve these goals,” Hong said.

Xinhua also contributed to this article.

 

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