China committed to nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, says Xi Jinping

Source:Xinhua-AFP Published: 2014-4-24 0:33:01

China is firmly committed to realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone conversation with South Korean President Park Geun-hye Wednesday.

China will firmly safeguard the peace and stability of the peninsula while pushing for a peaceful settlement, said Xi.

"China stands ready to keep close communication and coordination with South Korea on the peninsular issues, and hope all relevant parties can work together to ease its tension and safeguard its peace and stability," he said.

Park said that South Korea appreciates China's constructive role, and Seoul is willing to keep communication and cooperation with Beijing.

The phone call comes after South Korea said on Tuesday heightened activity at a North Korea nuclear test site might indicate an imminent test.

According to the presidential Blue House, Park voiced appreciation for China's attempts to get the North to suspend its testing program.

"She asked for further efforts to persuade North Korea, saying additional nuclear tests would completely alter the region's security map by triggering an arms race and a nuclear domino effect in the region," it said.

South Korea's defence ministry said Tuesday that stepped-up activity at Punggye-ri indicated a fourth test might be in the pipeline.

However, spokesman Kim Min-seok also acknowledged it could be a "deception tactic" to raise tensions before US President Barack Obama's arrival in Seoul on Friday.

The United States said Tuesday it was watching North Korea "very closely" following the warnings from Seoul.

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said recent satellite images did indeed show "new operations" at Punggye-ri.

But it added that a test to coincide with Obama's visit was unlikely since the activity did not appear to have reached the same level of intensity as before previous tests.

Xinhua-AFP

Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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