Beijing, Apr 11: China today said that the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue while guaranteeing security to the north Asian state.
"China had been consistent in its stance on the North Korean nuclear issue. The Chinese government held that the issue had to be solved peacefully and through dialogue," Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said here during a meeting with visiting South Korean minister of foreign affairs and trade Yoon Young-Kwan.
"Denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula had to be insisted on and the security of North Korea should be guaranteed," wen was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.
He said that China would continue to make unremitting efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. China is the closest ally of the reclusive Stalinist regime in Pyongyang.
Commenting on the continued diplomatic stand-off between Washington and Pyongyang, wen expressed the hope that relevant countries should remain calm and restrained and not take any actions that may further exacerbate the situation in the Korean peninsula.
Yoon arrived here yesterday for a three-day visit to China. His visit came after the UN Security Council met to discuss the North Korea-United States nuclear stand-off.
Shortly before the council convened, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged Washington and Pyongyang to resume dialogue and resolve the nuclear dispute peacefully.
Yoon thanked the Chinese government for its long, active efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
Bureau Report