News / China

Blind faith in North Korea bans irresponsible: China

Tuesday, 08 March 2016 11:12 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 09 March 2016 4:43 AM ]

Chinese FM Wang Yi speaks during a press conference in Beijing, March 8, 2016. (Photo by Xinhua)

China has denounced "blind faith” in sanctions on North Korea as irresponsible, while saying his country will continue to pursue denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

The UN Security Council approved its harshest sanctions ever against Pyongyang earlier this month, prompting North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un to order the country’s nuclear arsenal prepared for use at any time.

With the situation on the Korean Peninsula, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, "there are swords drawn and bows bent in mutual hostility, and the air is saturated with the taste of gunpowder.”

“Blind faith in sanctions and pressure, actually, are not a responsible approach for the future of the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

On Monday, South Korean and US troops began large-scale military exercises which North Korea called "nuclear war moves" and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive.

Seoul said the exercises would be the largest ever following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month.

China said it was "deeply concerned" about the exercises. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged “restraint instead of provocative moves.”

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei (Photo by Reuters)

Russia also said it was opposed to military exercises as a way of pressuring North Korea, calling on the parties involved to show restraint.

"The development of the situation on the Korean peninsula and around it is causing a growing concern," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

A South Korean amphibious assault vehicle (L) moves away from a submarine to a landing ship (R) near the port of Pohang, March 7, 2016.

South Korea and the US started two sets of military exercises on Monday, with the participation of some 17,000 American troops which marks a nearly-four-fold increase compared to the past. More than 300,000 South Koreans are also taking part in the war games.

Pyongyang warned of “indiscriminate” nuclear attacks against the US and South Korea in response to “even the slightest military action.”

Wang said, “As the largest neighboring country of the peninsula, China will not sit idly by and watch stability on the peninsula be destroyed on a basic level.”

He said the final settlement of the Korean issue "needs comprehensive action and the right medicine for the illness.”

Wang also said China would support and help North Korea if the latter sought development and security, but it “will not accommodate North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.”

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