China urges six-party talks over North Korea nuclear program

Beijing: China on Saturday urged the countries involved in talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program to resume negotiations that stalled seven years ago.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the multilateral talks involving China, the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea and North Korea are still the best way to address the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

He made the remarks at a symposium commemorating the 10th anniversary of a joint statement, in which all six parties agreed to commit to denuclearising the peninsula.

The talks collapsed in 2008, when North Korea refused inspections and declared the deal void.

"It is urgent for all the parties involved to reactivate the (2005) joint statement and make joint efforts to create conditions, reach consensus and pave the way for the resumption of the six-party talks," Wang said, addressing scholars and officials.

North Korea conducted a long-range missile launch in late 2012, and another nuclear test in early 2013. This week, Pyongyang signalled possible plans to launch a satellite and prepare for its fourth nuclear test explosion.

Wang urged all parties to refrain from exacerbating the tensions on the peninsula.

"We urge all the parties involved to take responsible attitude and not to take any new actions that could cause the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and northeast Asia," he said.