Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang (Photo source: fmprc.gov.cn)
China commended the commitment made by the United States on resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday, calling on Washington to convert its resolve to concrete action.
Lu Kang made the remarks in response to U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton's statement at a congressional hearing Thursday.
"We are not seeking regime change or collapse. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of Korea, nor an excuse to garrison troops north of the Armistice Agreement's Military Demarcation Line," Thorton said, adding that the United States has "no desire to inflict harm on the long-suffering" people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
She said that the purpose of putting pressure on the DPRK was to bring it back to negotiations on denuclearization.
"We have noticed that relevant parties released positive signals recently on peacefully resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue via dialogue. We encourage these moves," Lu said.
"China is affirmative of the commitment and hopes the United States can convert it into concrete actions," he said, calling on the DPRK to exert joint efforts.
"We expect all relevant parties can show their sincerity to pave way for peaceful talks," Lu said.
