BEIJING, Sept 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called
on the United States on Thursday to make efforts to resolve the North Korean
nuclear issue, warning that applying “maximum pressure” would never work.
Wang also repeated Beijing’s suggestion that the United Nations Security
Council should consider discussions on easing sanctions against the North.
The isolated regime is under heavy US and UN sanctions over its weapons
programme, and has criticised Washington’s position that they will not be
lifted until the country gives up its nuclear arsenal.
“Since last year, the DPRK has taken a series of positive measures, and on
these grounds requested the US to meet halfway and make a positive response,”
Wang told reporters, using the initials of North Korea’s official name.
“We think this is fair and reasonable. We hope that the US side can also
take practical measures in this regard, and make due efforts to ease the
situation and promote dialogue,” he said, after meeting Malaysian Foreign
Minister Saifuddin Bin Abdullah.
Pyongyang said this week it was willing to hold working-level talks on
denuclearisation this month with the United States.
Hours later the North fired unidentified projectiles into the sea — the
latest in a series of provocations by Kim Jong Un’s nuclear-armed regime.
Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been gridlocked since a
second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February ended
without a deal.
The two leaders had agreed to restart working-level dialogue during an
impromptu meeting at the Demilitarised Zone dividing North and South Korea in
June, but those talks have yet to begin.
Wang said that imposing a list of conditions on North Korea or seeking
concessions through maximum pressure “has not worked in the past, it will not
work now, and it will not work in the future”.