China ‘backs North Korean efforts for denuclearization’

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi says his country fully supports North Korea’s efforts to bring about denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, some two weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that Pyongyang would suspend its nuclear and missile tests and dismantle a nuclear test site.

According to reports, the Chinese foreign minister made the remark during a meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong-ho, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang during a rare visit to the North on Wednesday.

“China is willing to strengthen communication with North Korea and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue,” Wang said.

Wang also said that Beijing would also fully supported Pyongyang’s decision to concentrate its efforts on economic development instead of developing nuclear arms and ballistic missiles. However, he also said that China appreciated North Korea’s “reasonable and legitimate security concerns.”

Referring to the upcoming meeting between Kim and Trump, Wang said Beijing hoped “the dialog between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States will be conducted successfully and that substantial progress will be made.”

Meanwhile, a brief statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Wang also met with Kim on the second day of his two-day visit to the North.

SS