(Photo Courtesy of Xinhua/Liu Xin)

With regard to the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council on April 13, 2009 of a presidential statement on the DPRK launch, Ambassador Zhang Yesui, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, made the following remarks to Chinese and foreign journalists:

China has taken note that the DPRK announced its launch of an experimental communications satellite on April 5 (local time). We have also noted that the launch has caused concerns to relevant countries. The Security Council just adopted a presidential statement as a reaction to the launch. The statement calls upon parties concerned to fully implement Security Council resolution 1718. It also supports and calls for an early resumption of the Six-party Talks.

China always holds that the reaction of the Security Council should be cautious and proportionate. It should be aimed at advancing the overall interests of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, promoting the Six-party Talks and the denuclearization process on the Peninsula, and safeguarding the international non-proliferation regime. In such a spirit, China does not support the adoption of a resolution by the Security Council on the launch, let alone imposition of new sanctions against the DPRK.

China hopes that parties concerned bear in mind the overall and long-term interests, keep calm and show restraint. We hope that all parties work together to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and make concerted efforts to consistently promote the Six-party Talks and the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula. This serves the common interests of the international community and the countries in the region.