Beijing Urges World For Calm Response Over North Korea
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Beijing, China (AHN) - A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry has appealed for calm on Wednesday amidst the announcement made by North Korea on Tuesday that the reclusive communist regime is planning to conduct a test for use in its nuclear weaponry arsenal. He made the appeal as he urges other countries not to escalate the tensions. The spokesman said, "We hope that North Korea will exercise necessary calm and restraint." On Tuesday, Pyongyang announced that it is planning to launch a test of its nuclear weapons to boost the country's self-defense capabilities in the face of U.S. hostility. The U.S. and its allies have already warned against the plan with Washington labeling the plan as "provocative," while Japan said it would be "unacceptable." The announcement has also triggered street protests in Seoul, South Korea. Washington said it plans to raise the issue before the U.N. Security Council, but Beijing suggests the issue to be discussed first through the resumption of the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program. These talks have been stalled for almost a year following Pyongyang's refusal to return to the negotiating table unless the U.S. lifts financial sanctions. China, the closest thing North Korea has to an ally, has been pushing for a diplomatic resolution over the nuclear crisis poised by Pyongyang's weapons program.
|
