FM: US, DPRK should hold direct talks soon

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi answers questions on China's foreign policy and external relations at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, March 8, 2018. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to engage in direct talks soon on Thursday.

Wang made the remarks in a news conference for the First Session of the 13th National People's Congress.

The recent easing of tensions on the peninsula after Pyongyang and Seoul engaged in a series of interaction over the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics is welcomed, Wang said, adding that China fully supports the efforts by the DPRK and the Republic of Korea to improve ties.

The fact that during the Winter Games, the DPRK did not conduct any nuclear test, and the US and the ROK suspended their joint exercises prove China's proposal of a suspension-for-suspension was the right prescription for the problem, and created basic conditions for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, the foreign minister said.

"History has reminded us time and again that whenever tension in the peninsula subsided, the situation would be clouded by various interferences," Wang said, urging all parties to demonstrate political courage and make a political decision to carry out all necessary engagement, bilateral and multilateral, to restart dialogue for a peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.