Large Medium Small |
Diplomacy sought over nuclear test
Firm, prudent response needed, UN envoy says
'We see eye to eye on nuke danger'
The United States said on Tuesday that it can't confirm a report by Japanese national broadcaster NHK that North Korea has conducted a second nuclear test.
North Korean soldiers march towards a border line at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, about 55 km (31 miles) north of Seoul, October 11, 2006. [Reuters] |
China calls for diplomatic efforts
China called Tuesday for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis caused by a nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and ruled out military action as punishment.
"The international community and the United Nations should take positive and appropriate measures that will help the process of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news briefing.
"Any action towards the DPRK should be beneficial to the denuclearization of the peninsula, peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the resumption of the Six-Party Talks."
He said China does not endorse any military action against the DPRK, calling it "unimaginable."
"We are firmly against that."
Liu said China was conferring with other UN Security Council members over possible next steps.
He defended the Six-Party Talks, aimed at making the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, saying Monday's nuclear test "should not be regarded as a failure of China's foreign policy or a failure of the Six-Party mechanism."
"Facts have proved that the Six-Party Talks are the best way to resolve the issue," Liu said.
"The concerned parties should continue to generate efforts to keep the mechanism on track."