Nations urged by analysts to ease tensions on peninsula

Nations Nations involvedinvolved in in the the KoreanKorean PeninsulaPeninsula nuclear nuclear issueissue shouldshould do do what what they they cancan to to de-escalate de-escalate tensions tensions and and avoid avoid a a military military conflict conflict causedcaused by by miscalculation, miscalculation, analysts analysts said said on on Sunday. Sunday.

The The analystsanalysts said said those those nationsnations shouldshould realize realize the the necessity necessity of of solving solving the the issue issue in in a a peacefulpeaceful manner manner acceptable acceptable to to all. all.

ForeignForeign Minister Minister Wang Wang Yi Yi said stressed that the a potential dual-trackuse of approachforce overof dealingthe issue withof the the Democraticpeninsula’s People’s nuclear Republic issue whenof Korea attending (DPRK)a missile special activityUnited “does Nationsnot resolve Securitydifferences” Council ministerialand will only meetinglead to in New Yorkbigger disasters,on Friday. and that negotiation“We must is stay the committed“sensible choiceto the for goal all of parties”. denuclearization,” Speakinghe told representativesat a special sessionfrom all at membersthe UN Securityof the Council, Security Council.Wang said that the international“All parties should community comprehensively must keep its commitment understandto denuclearization.and fully implement “We shouldDPRK related never waiver Securityin our Council commitment resolutions,” to this he goal,”said. he said.

Wang China opposesurged “all the parties DPRK's to sanctions.research, development and possession “Threateningof nuclearand confrontationweapons, and are it more urges thanthe country enough concerningto stop its missilethe Korean development, Peninsula nuclearWang said. issue, The however,DPRK what needs theto honor countriesits denuclearizationand people in the obligations,region really he need said, is peacefuland urged and that rationalall parties voices,” the “demonstrate commentary politicalsaid. wisdom” “Only to when work all constructivelyrelated parties toward conscientiously denuclearization shoulderof the Korean Peninsula.

China pledged that it would implement UN sanctions on the DPRK, but Wang also said that “China is not the focal point of the problem on the peninsula” and that nuclear resolution “does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side”.

China supports a dualtrack approach, including a proposal of “suspension for suspension”, which calls for the suspension of nuclear and missile activities by the DPRK, and the suspension of military exercises by the US and South Korea. The proposal is designed to address the most pressing concerns of involved parties, but “they also help pave the way toward denuclearization”, Wang said.

According to the Republic of Korea’s military, the DPRK launched a ballistic missile theiron Saturday, responsibilities which and apparently act in the explodedcorrect way, seconds can after the issue liftoff. be solved and denuclearization A commentarybe realized publishedon thein peninsula as soon as People’s Daily on Sunday possible.”said Pyongyang’sDa Zhigang, developmentdirector of of the nuclear Institute weaponsof Northeastis putting Asianitself Studiesand the at wholethe Heilongjiang region under Academy extremelyof Social unsafeSciences, circumstances.said China, which neighborsIt warned the that DPRK, Pyongyangis dedicated should to go helpingno further those in theon both wrong sides direction of by the launchingissue through missiles, mediation. conducting nuclear tests “However,only to if receive Pyongyang more continues sanctions. its nuclear weapon “Threateningprogram and Washingtonand confrontation and its are allies more insist than on enoughheavy pressure, concerning they the risk Korean leading Peninsula the region nuclear into issue, conflicts however,and even what war,”the countrieshe said. and people in “Thethe regionkey to really solving need the is nuclear peaceful issue and on rationalthe peninsula voices,” the does commentarynot lie in the said. hands of the “Only Chinese when side,all relatedand only parties those who started conscientiouslythe trouble shoulder could theirhelp end responsibilitiesit,” he added. and Yu act Shaohua,in the a correct researcher way, of can Koreanthe issue Peninsulabe solved studies and at denuclearizationthe China Institutebe realizedof Internationalon the peninsula Studies,as soon said as efforts possible.”to prevent the situation Da Zhigang,from director deterioratingof the should Institute be of balanced, Northeast with Asianall related Studies partiesat the Heilongjiangplaying their proper Academy roles.of Social Sciences, said “Otherwise,China, which the neighborsroom for peacefulthe DPRK, negotiationsis dedicated will be to limited helping and those the on possibilityboth sides of of

We should never waiver in our commitment to this goal [of denuclearization].” Wang Yi foreign minister

the issue through mediation.

“However, if Pyongyang continues its nuclear weapon program and Washington and its allies insist on heavy pressure, they risk leading the region into conflicts and even war,” he said.

“The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side, and only those who started the trouble could help end it,” he added.

Yu Shaohua, a researcher of Korean Peninsula studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating should be balanced, with all related parties playing their proper roles.

“Otherwise, the room for peaceful negotiations will be limited and the possibility of going to extremes and conflicts will rise,” she said.