Chinese FM reiterates demand for THAAD's removal from South Korea

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met with his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, and reiterated Beijing's demand for the removal of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile shield.

Wang said China understands South Korea's need to safeguard national security, but is resolutely opposed to the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in the country.

The missile defense system exceeds the self-defense needs of South Korea and its deployment is detrimental to China's strategic security interests, Wang said.

China hopes South Korea will make efforts to reduce tension, giving due consideration to China's suspension-for-suspension initiative, which calls for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to suspend its nuclear and missile activities and for the United States and South Korea to suspend their large-scale war games, he stressed.

Regarding the issue of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said China will continue to strictly implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions concerning Pyongyang.

The resolutions, he said, provide for sanctions, but also call for the resumption of negotiations and stress the need to find a peaceful solution to the issue. China hopes the resolutions can be implemented fully and comprehensively, said Wang.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, September 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Earlier in the day, the Chinese foreign minister told the UN General Assembly that China was committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and there should be no new nuclear weapons north or south of the border, or elsewhere in Northeast Asia.

“We urge the DPRK not to go further along a dangerous direction,” Wang said.

“And we call upon all parties to play a constructive role in easing tensions. There is still hope for peace and we must not give up. Negotiation is the only way out, which deserves every effort. Parties should meet each other half way, by addressing each other’s legitimate concerns.”

Kang said South Korea has always favored a peaceful solution and does not want war on the Korean Peninsula again. South Korea stands for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and will stick to its promise not to re-deploy tactic nuclear weapons on the peninsula, she said, echoing President Moon Jae-in’s UN speech.

At the annual UN General Assembly, Moon said the nuclear issue needs to be managed stably so that tensions will not become overly intensified or accidental military clashes will not destroy peace.

Moon also made several pledges in this respect: "We do not desire the collapse of North Korea (DPRK). We will not seek unification by absorption or artificial means. If North Korea makes a decision, even now, to stand on the right side of history, we are ready to assist North Korea together with the international community."

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency