China, at UN Assembly, urges DPRK not to go ‘further along a dangerous direction’
There is still hope for peace, ‘and we must not give up’ on solving the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told world leaders at the United Nations today, while urging the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) not to go “further along a dangerous direction.”
“Negotiation is the only way out, and deserves every effort. Parties should meet each other halfway by addressing each other’s legitimate concerns,” he told the Assembly’s 72nd annual general debate, adding that China has tirelessly sought peace on the Korean Peninsula, and would stay firmly committed to its denuclearization.
He said that 19 September marked the 12th anniversary of the Six-Party talks Joint Statement, in which the parties, including China, formulated a roadmap towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. While some felt that statement has now become outdated, such peaceful trends never become obsolete.
Underscoring tireless efforts China has made for peace on the Korean Peninsula, he urged the DPRK not to go further along its dangerous direction, while calling on the United States to honour its commitments in the region.
However, “we are once again at a crossroads,” he said, noting that the world is faced with the choice between unity and division. In particular, he cited the Syrian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian issue, highlighting that the work of the UN must be driven forward, and all must embrace the spirit of the UN as a “guardian of world peace.”
Turning to development, the past five years have witnessed a momentous journey for China, said Mr. Wang, citing remarkable achievements on a number of fronts, which will bring more benefits to the world as it is an “anchor of world peace.”
China’s project of the century “Belt and Road” initiative, he highlighted, will not only offer a new paradigm for efforts to promote world peace, but it will also inject fresh impetus to the pursue of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.