Wang affirms stance on denuclearization issue

Addressing “reasonable security concerns” is key to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said yesterday.

Wang was answering a question on remarks by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a press briefing.

Tillerson had said the US seeks neither “regime change” nor “collapse of the regime” in North Korea. “We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula,” he said. “We do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th Parallel.”

North Korea fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile on July 28, following a first on July 4.

Wang said China’s stance on the issue is consistent and stable, and it is committed to denuclearization and maintaining peace and stability. Stressing security is “at the core” of the issue, Wang said China wants a solution that addresses the “reasonable” security concerns of all parties.