China on Thursday called for the full and balanced implementation of the United Nations Security Council new resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The new resolution, unanimously adopted on Wednesday, tightens sanctions on the DPRK in response to the country's fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9.
The resolution points out that the measures are not intended to produce negative humanitarian consequences in the DPRK, nor affect normal economic and trade activity, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.
"We hold that the resolution should be fully implemented in a balanced way," Geng said.
The 15-nation council decided that the DPRK shall not supply, sell or transfer coal, iron and iron ore from its territory, but excluded transactions affecting people's daily livelihoods.
The council sets an upper limit on DPRK's coal exports, saying the total exports from the DPRK should not exceed 400.9 million U.S. dollars or 7.5 million metric tons per year, whichever is lower, starting Jan. 1, 2017.
In addition, the Security Council bans the sale of copper, nickel, silver, zinc and statues from the DPRK.
Geng said China has always insisted on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region, and always called for a settlement on the issue through dialogue and consultation.
Currently, the top priority is to resume dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible, and restart the six-party talks at an early date, to promote the denuclearization of the peninsula, Geng said.
The current situation on the peninsula is sensitive and complex, he said, calling on all parties concerned to avoid any statement or action that might exacerbate tensions.
"China is opposed to the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system on the Korean Peninsula," the spokesperson said, urging its immediate cessation.
