United Nations:
China’s UN envoy said on Thursday that Beijing does not want North Korea to conduct another nuclear test, which is partly why China vetoed a US-led attempt to impose new UN sanctions on Pyongyang over launches. of ballistic missiles.
But Ambassador Zhang Jun warned against making any assumptions about how Beijing might respond at the United Nations if North Korea goes ahead with its first nuclear test since 2017. Washington has warned that such a test could happen “any moment” and it could push again for more UN sanctions.
“Let’s see what will happen, but I don’t think we should prejudge what will happen with a nuclear test,” Zhang told Reuters, two weeks after China and Russia vetoed the imposition of more sanctions from the United States. UN Security Council against North Korea.
“Denuclearization is one of China’s main goals,” Zhang said. “We don’t want to see another test.”
The double veto publicly divided the 15-member Security Council for the first time since it began punishing Pyongyang in 2006. The body has steadily — and unanimously — ramped up sanctions over the years in an effort to cut funding for North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
In recent years, however, China and Russia have pushed for the easing of sanctions on humanitarian grounds — and in hopes that North Korea can be convinced to return to negotiations with the United States to give up its nuclear weapons.
“Only with dialogue can we see the improvement in the situation. With sanctions we see the further deterioration,” Zhang said. “Our premise is very clear: sanctions do not solve the problems.”
North Korea has carried out dozens of missile launches this year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, breaking a testing moratorium it set itself after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met then-US President Donald Trump in 2018 for the first of three. meetings. The talks made no progress.
Zhang has urged Washington to relax unilateral sanctions against North Korea and end joint military exercises with South Korea in a bid to rekindle talks with Pyongyang. The United States says it has repeatedly contacted North Korea but has not received a response to the offer of negotiations without preconditions.
“We are telling the US to take concrete actions and engage in a dialogue. We are also telling our DPRK friends to really engage in a serious dialogue with the United States,” said Zhang, referring to the formal name of North America. Korea – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Zhang said it was not a “mission impossible” to resume talks between North Korea and the United States.
“The United States is the world’s greatest superpower. If the United States wants to engage in a dialogue with anyone in the world, it’s not difficult,” he said. “It’s up to North Korea to make their decision, but our willingness is definitely there.”
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