China FM urges DPRK to respond to U.S. guarantees

Xinhua News Agency

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to make a response to the guarantees of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Wang is attending a series of meetings of the ministers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which are being held in the Philippine capital city of Manila.

Wang said China fully appreciated the remarks that Tillerson made on Aug. 1 and regarded the remarks as a positive signal.

At a press conference on Aug. 1, Tillerson made four guarantees, including that the United States

seeks neither a regime change nor collapse of the regime in the DPRK

and the United States seeks neither an accelerated reunification of the

peninsula nor an excuse to send the U.S. military north of the 38th

Parallel.

Wang said that China has shown its opposition, along with the

international society, to the DPRK's constant missile launch activities

in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, so it consulted with

other members of the UN Security Council and voted for Resolution 2371.

Given China's traditional economic links with the DPRK, it is China

that will mainly pay the price for the implementation of Resolution

2371, Wang said.

However, China will continue to fully and strictly implement all the

contents of the resolution to safeguard the international nuclear

non-proliferation regime and maintain regional peace and stability, he

said.

Wang said "we can certainly air our views, but meanwhile, we also

could listen to the DPRK's opinions. I think it's fair and helpful."

Wang cautioned against the expectation of reaching an agreement at

one stroke, adding that talks are better than isolation and exchanges

are better than confrontation.

"Our stand is clear. That is to realize denuclearization in the

Korean Peninsula, safeguard peace and stability and solve problems

through dialogue and negotiations," Wang said.

Wang further explained that the core of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is the issue of security.

"The International community urges the DPRK to give up its nuclear

and missile programs, while the DPRK hopes to ease outside military

pressure. That's why the nature of the nuclear issue is not economy but

security, " Wang said.

Wang said there are two major components in the resolution - one is

sanctions and the other is to call for the resumption of the six-party

talks.

China hopes that all parties concerned could earnestly take into

account and accept China's "double suspension" proposal which requires

the DPRK to suspend its missile and nuclear activities in exchange for

the suspension of large-scale U.S.-South Korean military drills.

China hopes the "double suspension" proposal could get understanding and support from relevant parties.