North Korean nuclear threat at danger level, Tillerson tells Chinese hosts
But top US diplomat doesn’t reiterate threat of military action during first day of visit to Beijing
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday said North Korea’s nuclear threats had reached “a dangerous level” and called on China to make urgent efforts to help rein in the reclusive state, while Beijing insisted the crisis should be settled by diplomatic means.
But the ex-oil executive, who warned of a pre-emptive military strike against North Korea just a day before his first official visit to China, did not reiterate the threat yesterday in an obvious move to appease his hosts.
Speaking after a two-hour talk with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Tillerson said the pair had “a very extensive exchange” on the escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and that the two sides had agreed work together to stop Pyangyong from provocations.
“I think we share a common view and a sense that tensions in the peninsula are quite high right now and that things have reached a rather dangerous level,” he said.
Wang insisted the tensions on the peninsula were about the hostility between Pyangyong and Washington and said the issues should be resolved by talks.
“Now the situation on the peninsula arrives at a new crossroad, where it could be further escalated into conflicts or finding a way to restart negotiations by strictly implementing relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” he said.
But Tillerson said the option for further dialogue should only be considered if North Korea had moved away from developing nuclear weapons.
“We know that efforts made over the last 20 years so far have not succeeded in curbing North Korea’s illegal weapon programme,” Tillerson said.
Despite differences on North Korea and other issues, the diplomats struck a positive tone on Sino-US ties ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, expected to be held next month. They agreed that Sino-US relations should be guided by “non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation”.
Tillerson will meet Xi on Sunday.
In an interview shortly before his Beijing trip with the Independent Journal Review, Tillerson said Trump and Xi should have further conversations.
“[The] overall China-US relationship really needs better clarity that can only be achieved by a meeting between our two leaders – a face-to-face meeting – and some time for them to be together and some time for us to exchange views,” he said.
Bonnie Glaser of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies said Tillerson’s visit was unlikely to dispel deep-rooted mistrust between the two nations.
“Changes in policy are what will help dispel mistrust. It is looking for more balanced trade ties and greater Chinese contribution to peace and stability, especially in dealing with North Korea,” Glaser said.
