China urges N Korea dialogue

MANILA: China’s foreign minister said on Sunday new UN security council sanctions on North Korea were the right response to a series of missile tests, but dialogue was vital to resolve a complex and sensitive issue, now at a “critical juncture”.

Wang Yi, in what he described as “very thorough” bilateral talks on Sunday with North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho in Manila, said he had advised him to calmly assess the UN resolutions and not carry out tests that would only stoke tensions.

Wang said diplomatic and peaceful means were now necessary to avoid tensions and an escalation of the crisis.

“We call on all sides to take a responsible attitude when making judgements and taking actions,” Wang told reporters.

“We cannot do one and neglect the other. Sanctions are needed but sanctions are not the final goal,” Wang said.

The standoff is expected to dominate Monday’s Asean Regional Forum (ARF), which gathers 27 foreign ministers, including former participants in the halted six-party talks — Russia, Japan, the US, China and North and South Korea.

Wang’s meeting with North Korea’s Ri started off cordially.

“The Chinese side urged the North Korean side to calmly handle the resolutions ... and to not do anything unbeneficial towards the international community such as a nuclear test,” Wang said. He declined to say what Ri had told him.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha expressed hope that she could meet Ri. She met U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday and both described as a “good outcome” the passing of the tougher UN sanctions.