China urges restraint after DPRK launch

WASHINGTON - China on Monday called on all parties to exercise restraint to find an effective way out of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks while responding to a question regarding the test firing of three short-range missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea into its eastern waters on Saturday.

Currently the situation on the peninsula is complicated and sensitive, Hua said.

"Relevant parties should exercise restraint, refrain from any action that may irritate each other or intensify tensions, and make concerted efforts to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula."

The "dual-track approach" and the "suspension for suspension" initiative proposed by China are the most practical and feasible ways to address the security concerns of relevant parties in a balanced way, Hua said.

Peaceful solution

Her comments came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday that the United States will continue to seek a peaceful solution to the issue despite the recent missile launch by the DPRK.

"The firing of any ballistic missile is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and we do view it as a provocative act, a provocative act against the United States and our allies," said Tillerson on Fox News.

"We are going to continue our peaceful pressure campaign as I have described that working with allies, working with China as well, to see if we can bring the regime in Pyongyang to the negotiating table."

The US Pacific Command confirmed on Friday that the DPRK launched three missiles on Saturday morning local time, but none of them had posed a threat.

Two of the three projectiles flew about 250 kilometers, but the remaining one exploded in the air right after taking off.

The latest missile launch came as the US and the Republic of Korea were conducting their joint annual drills, which Pyongyang deemed as a provocation.

The missile launch also came days after Tillerson said that he was pleased with the DPRK's restraint in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Tillerson said he didn't think he was wrong about his remarks.

"I don't know that we're wrong," said Tillerson. "I think it's going to take some time to tell. This type of launch again, it is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. So, it is ... clearly, they are still messaging us as well, that they are not prepared to completely back away from their position."

Meanwhile, ROK President Moon Jae-in ordered the military Monday to immediately switch to an offensive operation if the DPRK "crosses the line".

"(The military) should strongly push for reform of the military structure in accordance with modern warfare to make it possible to immediately switch to an offensive operation if DPRK conducts provocation that crosses the line or attacks the capital area," said Moon.

Moon made the remarks during the meeting with Defense Minister Song Young-moo and top military commanders as well as officials from the defense ministry and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, according to the Blue House.

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/29/2017 page11)