Mr. President,

I have listened to the briefing by Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari.

We have taken note of the recent launches by the DPRK. We have also noticed the multiple joint military exercises held by the US and other countries recently in the region. A brief examination will reveal that the DPRK launch activities took place either before or after such military exercises, and did not exist in isolation. Given the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, all parties should focus on the overarching goal of peace and stability on the peninsula, stay cool-headed, exercise restraint and prudence, and refrain from taking any action that may aggravate the tensions or lead to miscalculation, so as to prevent a spiral escalation of the situation.

The Korean Peninsula issue is complex. The crux of the matter is the confrontation between the US and the DPRK. The year 2018 witnessed a significant positive turn of the situation on the peninsula. Regrettably, the US failed to respond to the DPRK’s positive measures in accordance with the principle of action-for-action. The denuclearization measures taken by the DPRK went unacknowledged, and the country’s legitimate and reasonable concerns have not been addressed. As a result, the DPRK-US dialogue has come to a deadlock, and mistrust has become even more entrenched. At the same time, the US has recently been bolstering its military alliances in the Asia Pacific region, and intensifying the risk of military competition on the nuclear issue. The US pursues double standards, and has engaged in political maneuvering, poisoning the regional security environment. Against this backdrop, the heightened tensions on the peninsula should not come as a surprise.

History shows that dialogue and consultation are the only way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. When the dialogue went well, relative stability prevailed on the peninsula, and when there was impasse or backtracking, tensions escalated. We call on the US to take concrete actions, demonstrate its sincerity, and effectively address the legitimate and reasonable concerns of the DPRK, so as to create conditions for the resumption of dialogue.

The Security Council should play a constructive role on the Korean Peninsula issue, instead of relying solely on strong rhetoric or pressure. The Council's discussions and deliberations should contribute to a detente, rather than fueling escalation. They should promote the resumption of dialogue, instead of widening differences, and forge unity, instead of creating divisions. China and Russia have jointly tabled a resolution on the DPRK, with the intention to ease the humanitarian situation on the ground, create a favorable atmosphere for mutual trust among all parties and the resumption of dialogue, and inject impetus into the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. This draft text is still on the table, and we hope that Council members will actively consider it.

Mr. President,

As a close neighbor of the DPRK, China follows closely the situation on the peninsula. As always, China remains committed to maintaining peace and stability and achieving denuclearization on the peninsula and resolving issues through dialogue and consultation. The Global Security Initiative proposed by China provides important guidance for the settlement of this issue. We once again call on all parties concerned to handle and resolve the Korean Peninsula issue based on the indivisibility of security, follow the dual track approach and the principle of phased and synchronized actions, stay committed to dialogue and consultation, meet each other halfway, and resolve the reasonable concerns of all sides in a balanced manner, so as to jointly promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue. China remains committed to playing a constructive role in this regard.

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Second Round of Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation of the Korean Peninsula

Mr. President,

Since after this open debate, we are going to have closed consultations, originally I did not intend to speak once again here. But now that the US representative made a second statement, I believe I have to make my second one too. I will mention three points.

First, the recent DPRK’s launches are not issues that should be viewed in isolation. We have always believed that we must view the current situation of the peninsula in a comprehensive way. The DPRK’s recent launches are closely related to the series of joint military exercises in the region. Some people are saying that the DPRK’s launches happened because in May the Security Council did not adopt a resolution, and that it is a result of the inaction of the Council. This argument is totally erroneous. This is misleading. There are reasons behind the increasing sense of insecurity of the DPRK. Recently, the US and other countries have frequently conducted military exercises, and it has conducted midget nuclear submarine cooperation with certain countries, and has claimed that it will deploy the so-called strategic assets in the region. Such rhetoric and actions are actually making the confrontation even sharper. They are creating risks and dangers. A secure and sound political environment is indispensable for the solution to the issue of the peninsula. We hope that the countries concerned will bear in mind the overarching goal of regional peace and security, and create a sound environment to the stability on the peninsula.

Second, just now, the US representative and other representatives mentioned in their statements that the Security Council’s DPRK-related resolutions must be fully implemented. China agrees, and this has been the consistent view of China. I also have to point out at the same time that the Council’s DPRK resolutions also include provisions to alleviate the humanitarian situation on the peninsula and to promote the political process. The implementation of the Council resolutions should fairly treat all the provisions, rather than only focusing on the sanctions. Experience has shown that sanctions are not something that can solve everything. If we only impose pressure, if we only are engaged in strong rhetoric, this will not help ease the situation, and this will only be misleading.

Third, I wish to stress here that dialogue and consultations are the only way to solve the issue. We urge the parties concerned to demonstrate sincerity and take actions to create conditions to resume the dialogue. We also call upon the countries concerned to meet each other halfway, treat the issue in a balanced manner, and address the legitimate and reasonable concerns of all parties. China is ready to make further contributions in this regard.

Thank you, Mr. President.