China UN envoy warns of disastrous consequences if tensions escalate over North Korea
Beijing’s ambassador outlines package of measures aimed at defusing the crisis over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme
China’s UN ambassador warned on Monday that further escalation of already high tensions with North Korea risks getting out of control “and the consequences would be disastrous”.
Liu Jieyi expressed hopes that key nations would be “more forthcoming” and support China’s three-part package to de-escalate tensions – reviving negotiations and dialogue leading to denuclearisation and peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
He reiterated at a news conference that an important initial proposal in the package was “suspension for suspension”, which would see North Korea halt nuclear and missile testing and the United States and South Korea stop military exercises.
Fears of a conflict on the Korean peninsula, which has been divided between the US-backed South and communist North since the 1950-53 Korean War, have escalated as the North’s young leader, Kim Jong-un, has expanded a nuclear arsenal and developed ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. His government says these are needed to avert a US invasion.
North Korea’s UN Ambassador Kim In-ryong said last week that the more than 50-year confrontation between North Korea and the United States came closer to the brink of nuclear war than ever before when the US and South Korea held what he called their largest-ever “aggressive” military exercises in April and May.