Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Peace and Stability on the Korean Peninsula Align with China's Interests... Communication Continues"

"Peninsula Tensions Are a Korea-US Responsibility," Responds to Wang Yi's Remarks
"Efforts to Promote China's Constructive Role"
"North Korea Shifts Blame to Outsiders"

On the 7th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it will "continue efforts to encourage China's constructive role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue" in response to China's remarks blaming South Korea and the United States for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Im Soo-seok, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo by Yonhap News

At a regular briefing held that day, Deputy Spokesperson Lim was asked about Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party (also serving as Foreign Minister), and his remarks regarding the Korean Peninsula. Lim said, "Since North Korea's denuclearization and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula also align with China's interests, we will continue communication with China at all levels."

Deputy Spokesperson Lim added, "North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and missiles according to its own schedule, while constantly shifting responsibility to external parties and making false and distorted claims to justify its actions."

Earlier, Director Wang, at a press conference held during China's annual political event, the Two Sessions (National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), commented on the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, stating, "The fundamental way is to resume peace negotiations to address the reasonable security concerns of all parties, especially North Korea, and to promote the political resolution process of the Korean Peninsula issue." This was interpreted as expressing the view that the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula originated not from North Korea but from South Korea and the United States.