Political means, not tricky loops, key to denuclearize Korean Peninsula

It’s time for parties concerned to end the tricky loop on the Korean Peninsula impasse.

Only days after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea over its latest nuclear test, the Northeast Asian country reportedly launched again a ballistic missile on Friday.

According to the Japanese government Friday morning, the ballistic missile fired from North Korea had flown over northern Japan and fallen into the Pacific. In defiance of the UN Security Council resolution, North Korea chose to respond in a tough manner, as usual, to the harsh warnings of the international community.

In order to realize the aim of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, the international community, particularly the parties directly concerned, must not be trapped in an endless loop that nuclear and missile tests trigger tougher sanctions, while the latter invites further tests.

To avoid such a vicious circle and to ultimately solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the parties should seek a peaceful settlement through diplomatic and political means.

First, the international community should implement comprehensively and completely the UN Security Council resolution, which consists of necessary measures regarding North Korea nuclear test.

Just like what Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, the resolution reflected the unanimous stance of Security Council members in safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, advancing denuclearization on the peninsula and upholding international non-proliferation.

Second, the parties concerned, particularly North Korea and the US, should not take further moves to deteriorate the situation.

The China-proposed “suspension for suspension” initiative – North Korea suspends its missile and nuclear activities in exchange for a halt to largescale military exercises between the US and South Korea – is a practical method to find a breakthrough to solve the Korean Peninsula issue.

Neither North Korea missile and nuclear tests nor the USSouth Korea military exercises and the deployment of the US anti-missile Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, are conducive to ease the tension.

Third, the world should not give up the direction to solve the issue by diplomatic and political means.

In a bid to denuclearize the peninsula and establish a peace mechanism, it’s very important to find peaceful ways of resolving the Korean Peninsula impasse.

The door to peacefully solving the issue is still open. The parties concerned should genuinely show their political courage, take all opportunities for peace and work together.