Mr. President, 

I think Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari for his briefing, and I also welcome the PRs of the DPRK and ROK to this meeting. 

At present, the Korean Peninsula is seeing continued tensions and intensified confrontation. This is not in the interest of any party, and this is something that China does not wish to see. China takes note of the recent launches by the DPRK. We also note the moves by a certain country to provide extended deterrence to its ally and the dispatch of strategic weapons to the Peninsula. If this vicious cycle of aggressive assertion of power cannot be broken, I'm afraid the Peninsula could see further escalations. 

Building mutual political trust and a favorable atmosphere is indispensable to the resolution of the Peninsula issue. Current developments have fully proved that the efforts by a certain country to merely pursue stronger military alliances and increase deterrence or pressure will not help to resolve the problem. Such efforts are counterproductive and will trigger more problems and aggravate tensions, thus making it harder to realize the goal of a denuclearized, peaceful, and stable Peninsula.

The priority now is for all parties to stay calm, exercise restraint, and work together to cool down the situation and create conditions for the resumption of talks. History has shown us that dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way to resolving the Peninsula issue. As long as relevant parties can restart talks and work with a shared goal, the situation on the Peninsula will remain stable and there will be hope for political settlement. A certain country should face up to the crux of the Peninsula issue, discard the myth of exerting military pressure, put forward concrete, visible plan for dialogue, and turn its remarks about unconditional dialogue into reality. Through practical actions, it can help advance the process of finding a political solution to the Peninsula issue and safeguard peace and stability on the Peninsula. 

When handling the Peninsula issue, the Council should aim at easing the situation and facilitating talks instead of exerting pressure or making its voice heard for the sake of voicing opinions. Promoting a political settlement and enhancing solidarity and mutual trust is crucial to safeguarding the Council's reputation. The DPRK related draft tabled by China and Russia focuses on the humanitarian front, which is relatively less sensitive. It is about showing goodwill and sending a positive signal. It is about creating conditions and building up momentum for resuming talks and turning around the situation, thus facilitating a political solution. We call on those countries that have been demanding Council actions on the Peninsula issue to seriously consider this draft. 

To conclude, let me reiterate as a close neighbor of the Peninsula and as a responsible major country, China has constantly committed itself to maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula and realizing its denuclearization. We will remain active in maintaining stability and promoting talks, and will play a constructive role in promoting political settlement, the early resumption of talks and engagement between the parties, and the realization of long-term peace and stability in Northeast Asia. 

Thank you, Mr. President.