China hails US seeking talks with N Korea
China yesterday welcomed comments by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the United States does not seek to topple the North Korean government and would like dialogue with Pyongyang at some point, saying China had always supported talks.
Tillerson reiterated that Washington sought to persuade North Korea to give up its missile and nuclear weapons programmes through peaceful pressure.
The United States does not seek regime change, the collapse of the regime, an accelerated reunification of the peninsula or an excuse to send the US military into North Korea, Tillerson said.
Speaking to reporters, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China "attached great importance" to Tillerson's remarks and his reiteration of what Wang called the "Four Nos" principle.
"We hope the US side can put this 'Four Nos' principle into actual policy towards North Korea," Wang said.
The United States has recently been paying more attention to security issues on the Korean peninsula, and China has always believed security is the key to resolving the problem, he added.
North Korea says it needs a strong military deterrent to prevent a hostile United States from attacking it.
China hopes all sides can meet each other halfway and through talks find a way of resolving each others security concerns as this is the key for a resolution, Wang said.
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