We begin today's program with the latest reaction to America's unexpected U-turn in diplomacy. China has labeled US President Donald Trump's decision to cancel the planned summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un "a setback". Beijing is also urging Washington and Pyongyang to treasure long-time efforts toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Wu Haojun has the details.

Moments after the DPRK demolished its Punggye-ri nuclear test site on Thursday, Trump wrote a letter to Kim announcing that the US was pulling out from what would have been the first-ever meeting between a serving US president and DPRK leader. Trump said his decision was due to "the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed" in the DPRK's most recent statements.

Although the meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Singapore on June 12th, is now nothing but a distant dream, both the US and DPRK have sent positive signals that work would continue for a potential summit in the future. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has called the cancellation a setback.

LU KANG, SPOKESPERSON CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "China's stance on the issues in regards to the Korean Peninsula has been always clear and consistent. We think the meeting between the leaders of the United States and the DPRK is key to advance the progress of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. Under the current circumstances, we truly hope the US and the DPRK can treasure the positive outcomes, remain patient and share good intentions while using dialogue to resolve differences."

While meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed China's stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

WANG YI CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER "We believe that in achieving the process or the goal of denuclearization it is necessary to address the legitimate security concerns of the DPRK. And I told our US colleagues that if you want to solve the problem, now is the time. If you want peace, now is the time. If you want to make history, now is the time."

World leaders have also voiced concern toward Trump's decision, but remain hopeful Washington and Pyongyang will minimize differences via dialogue.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "Russia perceives this decision with regret. We all seriously hoped that a significant step would be taken towards the reduction of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and that it would be the start of denuclearization of the whole peninsula. We hope that the dialogue will be renewed, continued and the meeting will take place."

ANTONIO GUTERRES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL "I am deeply concerned by the cancellation of the planned meeting in Singapore between the president of the United States and the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and I urge the parties to continue their dialogue to find a path to a peaceful and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

At an emergency national security meeting, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said it's deeply regrettable that the summit will not take place as scheduled. Despite the US' decision to pull out, Moon's government will continue to work with the DPRK on the issue.

To quote Trump's letter: "This missed opportunity is a truly sad moment in history." Wu Haojun, CGTN.