China opposes putting DPRK human rights situation on Security Council agenda

Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Min casts his vote during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at UN headquarters in New York, December 10, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS -- China opposes putting the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by the Security Council on its provisional agenda citing human rights reasons, a Chinese envoy said on Thursday.

The UN Charter stipulates explicitly that the primary responsibility of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security, said Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council meeting on the DPRK situation.

Various UN organs have their respective functions and the division of labor. The Security Council is not the right place to get involved in human rights issues, Wang said.

"Human rights situation in the DPRK does not constitute a threat to international peace and security and China opposes putting the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by the Security Council on its provisional agenda," he said.

Warning that the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains complex and sensitive, the envoy said that, "upholding the goal of denuclearization of the Peninsula, maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula, and insisting on dialogue and consultations as a way to solve issues, these are in the common interests of all parties concerned."

He pointed out that all parties concerned should make efforts to facilitate dialogue, ease tensions and build trust on the Peninsula.

China has been actively promoting peace talks and has made unremitting efforts to safeguard peace and promote the denuclearization on the Peninsula, said Wang.

"We hope relevant parties can work with China to play an active role in achieving peace and stability on the peninsula, realizing the goal of denuclearization and safeguarding the common interests of all parties," he said.