October 4, 2024
President,
I congratulate the United Kingdom for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing and welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of the DPRK at today’s meeting.
China has taken note of the recent launch by the DPRK and its relevant statements, as well as the reactions of other parties. The current situation on the Peninsula remains tense with growing antagonism and confrontation, which is not in the interest of any party. As a close neighbor of the Peninsula, China hopes for peace and stability on the Peninsula and does not wish to see any turbulence or even war and chaos there. China calls on all parties to bear in mind the overall peace and stability on the Peninsula and the world at large, exercise calm and restraint, avoid intensifying and escalating tensions, and make joint efforts to deescalate the situation as soon as possible.
President,
The longstanding and complex issue of the Peninsula is in essence a security issue. Its root cause is the Cold War vestiges, the absence of a peace mechanism, and the lack of mutual trust between the United States and the DPRK. It is imperative for all parties to take a rational and pragmatic approach and work to build mutual trust, so as to create a conducive atmosphere for deescalating the situation.
To fundamentally resolve the Peninsula issue, China, upholding impartiality and objectivity, proposed a dual-track approach and the principle of phased and synchronized steps, which remains realistic and feasible under the current situation. Regrettably, a certain country, obsessed with the Cold War mentality and zero sum game, has been vigorously pursuing its geopolitical strategies, strengthening military alliances, and provoking bloc confrontations. These moves run counter to the historic mission of realizing the transition from armistice to a peace mechanism on the Peninsula and to the common aspiration of regional countries for stability, cooperation, and development.
It is particularly important to note that the United States, while claiming that it wants to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and denuclearize the Peninsula, has continued to increase the deployment of its strategic forces, strengthened the extended deterrence arrangement on the Peninsula, and even transferred tons of weapon-grade highly enriched uranium to non-nuclear weapon state under AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation framework. The United States has also deployed intermediate range missile system in the Philippines, and seeks to further expand the deployment to Northeast Asia. These moves are tantamount to pushing the threat to the doorstep of China and other countries in the region, seriously jeopardizing regional security and upsetting the strategic security balance. We urge the United States to immediately cease these dangerous and wrong moves and to withdraw and abandon relevant deployment.
President,
China always believes that the Security Council should play a constructive role on the Peninsula issue and take concrete measures to deescalate the situation and enhance mutual trust, rather than simply imposing sanctions and pressure. Under the current circumstances, the Security Council needs unity, not division. It needs to promote dialogue, not just for the sake of doing so, and still less, to intensify antagonism. The countries concerned should come up with concrete actions and feasible proposals and make effective efforts to advance the political settlement of the Peninsula issue, rather than using the Security Council to intensify confrontations.
I wish to reiterate that a peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula serves the common interests of all parties concerned and meets the wide expectations of the international community. China, as a close neighbor of the Peninsula and a responsible major country, will continue to play a constructive role in its own way in maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula and realizing lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
Thank you, President.
The Second Round of Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Korean Peninsula Nuclear Issue
President,
The Peninsula issue has been protracted for years. The core is the disputes between the US and the DPRK. And the key to solving the problem lies in hands of the US. In fact,what has happened over the years has given us ample reason to question whether or not the US really wants to ease the situation on the Peninsula, or rather to use it as an excuse to achieve its greater geopolitical aims. If the US is sincerely wishing to break the current deadlock, it should know what to do. The US should abandon its erroneous practices of bloc politics, provoking bloc confrontations, conducting military exercises at will, and constantly threatening to exert pressure. Only in this way, can the situation on the Peninsula be eased and conditions created for the peaceful resolution of the crisis through dialogue.
As for the voice of the Council, China has stated our positions many times. The approach of the Council on the question of the Peninsula should be that of easing, rather than exacerbating tensions. Sanctions and pressure alone will not help ease the situation, but will only lead to escalation and even loss of control. That is why we are opposed to them.
As for the AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation, China has made clear its positions on many new occasions, and our positions have been supported by many member states. The agreement between the three countries runs counter to the purpose and principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and will create a very dangerous precedent. We once again call on the three countries in question, that is the US, the UK, and Australia, to act prudently and avoid exacerbating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region or undermining global efforts in non-proliferation.
Finally, I note that the US has not responded to the issue of its deployment of land-based intermediate range missiles in the Philippines. I would like to emphasize once again that land-based intermediate range missiles are offensive weapons, and once deployed in close proximity can easily lead to strategic miscalculation, significantly increase the sense of insecurity of regional countries, and heighten the risk of an arms race and military conflicts, which will ultimately jeopardize the security interests of all countries, including the allies of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. We hope that the US will face up to the voices of the countries in the region, rectify its wrong approach, and completely abandon its plan to deploy land-based intermediate range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. We also hope that the allies of the US in the Asia-Pacific region will play a constructive role in this regard.
Thank you, President.