China: We hope that the US side will earnestly attach importance to and respond to the legitimate concerns of the DPRK

United Nations, 3 Mar (ZXS) -- Geng Shuang, deputy permanent representative of China to the United Nations, said at the Security Council's open meeting on the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula on 20 March that China hopes that the United States will earnestly attach importance to and respond to the legitimate concerns of the DPRK and leave room for diplomatic efforts.

In the second round of speeches at the meeting, in response to the representatives of the United States and Britain questioning China's attitude on the Korean Peninsula issue and China's statement on the recent series of DPRK launch activities, Geng Shuang stressed that China's position on the Korean Peninsula issue is clear and consistent. China is committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and resolving the issue through diplomatic negotiations. This position has not changed. China's statement is based on its analysis and judgment of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

On the issue of joint military exercises, Geng Shuang said: Since the beginning of this year, for a period of time, the DPRK has generally exercised restraint and has not taken radical actions, but the United States and other countries have frequently carried out various military activities against the DPRK on the peninsula and its surroundings, raising the level and scale of the joint exercises. Just now, the US representative said that these exercises are completely "conventional, routine and defensive in nature," but let's take a look at the content of the exercises, which include "striking targets in depth," "decapitation operations," and "occupying Pyongyang." Just by listening to these names, we know if this is defensive or not?! These deterrent pressures will only exacerbate tensions on the peninsula. The DPRK recently expressed its concern through official media that it was concerned about the continued deterioration of the situation on the peninsula and even reached the brink of conflict, and called on relevant countries to put international peace and security above all else and stop military confrontation. China hopes that the US side will earnestly attach importance to and respond to the legitimate concerns of the DPRK and leave room for diplomatic efforts.

On the issue of nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia under the framework of the Trilateral Security Partnership, Geng Shuang said that in terms of non-proliferation harm, US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation is undoubtedly "the elephant in the room". The three countries' justification for adhering to the "highest nuclear non-proliferation standards" cannot obscure the essence of the cooperation concerned. Trilateral nuclear submarine cooperation is the first transfer of weapons-grade HEU from a nuclear-weapon State to a non-nuclear-weapon State, which will allow Australia to easily cross the "nuclear threshold". Such practices pose a serious risk of nuclear proliferation and are contrary to the object and purpose of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Geng Shuang said: For many years, the United States has always pursued double standards on the issue of nonproliferation. They continue to hype up the DPRK nuclear and Iranian nuclear and other non-proliferation hot issues, invest a lot of resources, exert tremendous pressure, and do everything possible to prevent the DPRK and Iran from obtaining highly enriched uranium, including promoting the JCPOA to prohibit Iran from producing enriched uranium at an abundance of more than 3.67%. Twenty years ago today, the United States brazenly used force against the Saddam regime in Iraq on the pretext of preventing proliferation. But now the United States has abandoned its nonproliferation standards and transferred to Australia tons of weapons-grade HEU that could be more than 90 percent abundant for geopolitical gain. This has exposed the true face of the United States in ignoring its responsibilities and the concerns of the international community on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation.

Geng Shuang said: China once again calls on the United States, Britain and relevant parties to seriously consider the DPRK-related draft resolution jointly submitted by China and Russia at the Security Council. The starting point of this draft resolution is to promote the easing of the humanitarian situation in the DPRK and the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue, send goodwill and positive signals, and create conditions for the situation on the Korean Peninsula to turn around. If some countries sincerely hope that the situation on the peninsula will ease and that peace on the peninsula will be maintained, they should take this resolution seriously. (End)