Proposal for Korean Peninsula is ‘reasonable, feasible’

Beijing urged parties involved in the Korean Peninsula issue to think outside the box, be pragmatic and seriously consider China’s “dual suspension” proposal.

At a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Pyongyang to suspend nuclear and missile programs, and Washington and Seoul to suspend largescale joint military exercises.

The dual suspension proposal is “objective, fair, reasonable and feasible”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday.

The suggestions, however, were rejected by the US and the ROK.

Mark Toner, acting spokesman of the US State Department, said the US doesn’t see the dual suspensions as “a viable deal”.

Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations, said the US is “considering every option that’s on the table”, The Associated Press reported. Cho Tae-yul, the ROK ambassador to the UN, also rejected the idea of dual suspensions.

In return, Geng urged the US and the ROK to break their stereotypical thinking and assume a pragmatic and reasonable attitude.

Geng said the Korean Peninsula issue, which is “highly complicated” at a time when mutual trust is “greatly lacking” among parties involved, can only be solved in a lasting, thorough and effective manner through tackling the concerns of all.

He said China’s proposal reflects the Korean Peninsula’s reality, takes into account the most urgent concerns of all parties, and is in line with the efforts of related UN Secu- rity Council resolutions.

“We hope all parties ... will study carefully and respond constructively to China’s proposal and approach,” Geng said.

“China also welcomes better suggestions by parties involved on how to solve the peninsula’s current predicament,” he added.

US State Secretary Rex Tillerson will visit Japan, the ROK and China from Wednesday, and will discuss issues including the Korean Peninsula issue.

Geng Shuang, Foreign Ministry spokesman