Politics
15:28, 25-May-2018
China urges DPRK, US to be patient and address concerns through dialogue
["china"]
Share
Copied
00:51
China on Friday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States to cherish the "positive progress" that has been made and address each other's concerns through dialogue and consultation.
Commenting on US President Donald Trump's cancelation of his planned summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un on June 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang urged the two sides to maintain patience, show goodwill to each other and meet each other halfway in the process of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"The current momentum of dialogue and easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula does not come by easily," Lu said at a regular press briefing. "There is now a historic opportunity to resolve the issue by political means."
01:31
Trump leaves door open to meeting Kim
Trump called off the upcoming US-DPRK summit on Thursday, slamming Pyongyang for its recent "tremendous anger and open hostility."
"I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," the US president said in a personal letter to Kim. "You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used."
But Trump left the door open to meeting the DPRK leader in the future. "Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you," he wrote. "If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write."
00:47
Read more:
Responding to Trump's "unexpected" and "extremely regrettable" announcement, the DPRK on Friday said it is still willing to talk to the US.
"We again state to the US our willingness to sit face-to-face at any time in any form to resolve the problem," Kim Kye Gwan, the DPRK's first vice foreign minister, said in a statement.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman underscored the positive side of the statements by Washington and Pyongyang.
"We have noticed recent statements by the US and the DPRK on their leaders' meeting as well as the setbacks in the process of preparation," Lu noted. "At the same time, we have also noticed President Trump still said he is willing to meet with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un at an appropriate time, and that the DPRK also expressed its willingness to continue to sit down with the US and resolve the issue."
3km