Window emerges to open talks on Korean nuclear issue

An opportunity or a window has emerged to open talks on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, a senior official with the Chinese military said in Washington on Tuesday.

Guan Youfei, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense of China, made the remarks at a news briefing held in Washington D.C., stressing there are signs of eased tensions in the Peninsula, and leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has voiced willingness to conduct multilateral talks.

According to Guan, who accompanied Chinese Minister of National Defense Chang Wanquan for a visit to the United States from Aug.16- 20, Korean Peninsula nuclear issue was one of the topics discussed by Minister Chang and his U.S. hosts.

Guan said Chang discussed the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue with his U.S. counterpart Chuck Hagel and Susan Rice, U.S. President Barack Obama's national security advisor, Monday. Chang told the U.S. side that China has always opposed nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and insists on preserving peace and stability there.

China also believes the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue can only be solved through active negotiations and engagement, saying pressure and sanctions won't help in solving the problem and urging the U.S. side to show flexibility and engage the DPRK, and not to let the opportunity to slip away.

The U.S. side has voiced willingness to work with the Chinese side to achieve a more swiftly solving of the issue, according to Guan.