China asks US, North and South Koreas to exercise restraint

Manila, Aug 6 (IANS) North Korea, the US and South Korea should exercise restraint and make right choice to de-escalate tensions in the Korean peninsula, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday.

Wang made remarks while meeting North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho on the sidelines of Asean summit here.

Wang expounded on China's principles and position on North Korean nuclear issue, noting that the situation in the region was highly sensitive and complex, which had affected the China-North Korea relations, Xinhua news agency reported.

While stressing the situation in the peninsula is currently getting close to the critical point of crisis, the Minister said it was at a turning point.

The Chinese Minister called on North Korea not to violate UN Security Council resolutions any more, while urging the US and South Korea not to escalate tension on the peninsula.

Earlier in the day, the Minister said both sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and resumption of the six-party talks were important and neither should be neglected.

He said China, as a permanent member of the UNSC, upheld an impartial and objective position and played a responsible and constructive role in the process of the adoption of the resolution.

Noting that sanctions were necessary but not the ultimate goal, the Minister said the measure aimed to bring parties concerned back to the negotiating table.