China has called on relevant parties to stay calm, exercise restraint and resume meaningful dialogue on the Korean Peninsula issue as soon as possible to explore effective solutions that address all sides’ concerns in a balanced manner, said the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming.
He made the remarks during his visit to the UN Headquarters in New York from March 29 to April 2.
Exchanging views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula topped the agenda during Liu’s meetings with UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya and permanent representatives of Security Council member states, including the U.S., Russia, the UK, France, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, India, Kenya and Mexico.
The UN Security Council bears the important responsibility of safeguarding international peace and security. Hence, it should further build consensus for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue to prevent the peninsula from sliding back into tense confrontation, he said.
DiCarlo and Msuya recognized China’s role in dealing with the Korean Peninsula issue and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with China to provide humanitarian assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
During his visit to New York, Liu also had separate meetings with the permanent representative of the DPRK and the permanent representative of the Republic of Korea to exchange views on the situation on the peninsula and issues of mutual concern.
Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), said on Saturday the South Korean defense minister’s reckless rhetoric would worsen bilateral relations, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday.
“His reckless and intemperate rhetoric about the ‘preemptive strike’ has further worsened the inter-Korean relations and the military tension on the Korean Peninsula,” said Kim, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and younger sister of the DPRK’s top leader Kim Jong Un.
South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook on Friday publicly said that his troops have the capabilities to “accurately and swiftly” strike the origin of the DPRK’s missile firing as well as command and support facilities upon clear signs of a launch toward South Korea.
“South Korea may face a serious threat owing to the reckless remarks made by its defense minister,” Kim said.
She also said Pyongyang would reconsider many things concerning Seoul, and South Korea should discipline itself to stave off disaster.
Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, was quoted by KCNA in a separate report on Sunday in which he warned strong retaliation if South Korea dares to conduct a “preemptive strike” against the DPRK.
“If the South Korean army engages in a dangerous military action as a preemptive strike against the DPRK, being guided by misjudgment, our army will mercilessly direct all its military force into destroying major targets in Seoul and the South Korean army,” Pak said.
“The South Korean military must not ramp up the tension with its confrontational acts,” he said.
