China says DPRK, U.S. should solve problems through talks

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang (Photo source: fmprc.gov.cn)

China said Friday that as parties directly involved in the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States should solve their problems through talks and dialogue.

"China always maintains that the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is a security issue in essence, and the core is the contradiction between the DPRK and the United States," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

Geng was commenting on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's recent remarks that he had passed a message to the U.S. side that the DPRK was open to direct talks with the United States.

Geng said that China has been making efforts for the United States and the DPRK to solve their differences through talks.

He said that China also welcomes other parties, including Russia, to make efforts to bring the Korean peninsula nuclear issue back to dialogue and consultation as soon as possible.