BEIJING -- China is opposed to financial sanctions on the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK), said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday,
warning against further complication of the thorny issue.
(Related: Japan OKs more sanctions on N. Korea)
The spokesman, in a comment on Japan's newly-approved financial sanctions on
the DPRK, urged all sides in the six-party nuclear talks to keep calm and
exercise restraint.
China has always maintained that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula
should be solved through dialogues, Qin told a press briefing.
"All parties concerned should focus on how to resume the talks as soon as
possible and avoid any action that may further complicate the situation," the
spokesman said.
He said that the situation on the peninsula is sensitive and complicated,
calling for efforts to ease the tension.
However, Qin said that China has no plan to attend a 10-nation meeting
proposed by the United States on the nuclear issue.
Tuesday marked the first anniversary of the Joint Statement of the six-party
talks.
The statement, adopted at the end of the fourth round of talks on September
19, 2005, was regarded as the most substantial document since talks began in
August 2003.
The statement offered a framework for solving the nuclear issue through
dialogues, Qin said, urging all parties to make efforts to implement the
statement.
The six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the
Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, have stalled after the first phase of the
fifth round of talks ended last November.
