China on Thursday said it hoped the UN Security Council resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) could be fully and seriously implemented, urging parties concerned not to intensify tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
In response to the nuclear test and satellite launch by the DPRK, the 15-nation council unanimously adopted a resolution early Wednesday that imposed a raft of sanctions on the DPRK to curb the country's nuclear and missile programs.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing that the sanctions were not an end in themselves, and only dialog and negotiation can fundamentally solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
The UN Security Council reiterated its demands that the DPRK abandon all nuclear weapons and other nuclear programs as well as weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
Wednesday's resolution includes a ban on all exports from the DPRK of coal, iron, iron ore, gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore and rare earth metals. It also banned the supply of all types of aviation fuel, including rocket fuel, to the DPRK.
The sanctions should avoid impacting on the lives of the general population of the DPRK and its humanitarian needs as much as possible, said Hong, noting that is an important part of the resolution.
It is clear that the resolution aims to prevent the DPRK from developing its nuclear and missile programs, promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, Hong said.
The resolution reiterated that the nuclear issue should be solved through dialogue and negotiation by relevant parities and supported the resumption of the six-party talks, he said.
As the chair of the six-party talks, China maintains an objective and fair attitude in approaching how to resume the talks, the spokesperson said.
Hong said the Chinese side had proposed parallel tracks, which involve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the replacement of the Korean armistice with a peace agreement.
China is willing to discuss the routes and steps of this parallel-track approach with relevant parties, Hong said.
At present, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is complex and sensitive, Hong said, urging parties concerned not to intensify tensions.
Hong reiterated that China opposed the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), an advanced U.S. missile defense system, in the Korean Peninsula, calling for prudent actions by certain countries.
It is reported that the defense ministry of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said on Thursday that the DPRK has fired several short-range projectiles into eastern waters despite the new UN Security Council resolution on Pyongyang.
"All parties have a responsibility to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula," Hong said.
