BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- China said Tuesday the missile launches of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday were short-range rockets and would not affect easing tensions on the Korean Peninsular.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks in response to a question on China's stance over the issue at a regular news briefing.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that Pyongyang had test-fired a total of five short-range ground-to-ground missiles off its east coast on Monday.
"We hope all parties concerned remain calm and show restraint and jointly maintain regional peace and stability," Ma said.
He called for all sides to make constructive efforts to push forward the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsular and the early resumption of the six-party talks.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Il said earlier this month that his country was willing to attend multilateral talks, including the six-party talks, depending on the progress of its talks with the United States.
Launched in 2003, the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue involve China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan.
The talks have been stalled since the last round in Beijing last December.
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has test-fired a total of five short-range ground-to-ground missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing government sources.
File photo taken on Jan. 5, 2009 shows the Democratic People's Republic of Korea test-fires missiles. DPRK has test-fired a total of five short-range missiles off its east coast Oct.12, 2009 South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. (Xinhua/AFP file photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The five KN-02 type missiles, two of them launched on Monday morning and the rest in the afternoon, were fired from missile bases located between south of Musudanri, North Hamgyeong Province, and north of Wonsan, Gangwon Province, the sources said. Full story
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio met at a summit on Friday, emphasizing denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"The two leaders agreed on (the need for) a fundamental, comprehensive solution to North Korea (the DPRK)'s nuclear program and promised to closely cooperate to completely resolve the problem," President Lee said during a joint press conference held right after the summit. Full story
MOSCOW, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russia welcomes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s willingness to return to the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, an official said Tuesday.
"We support the intention of the DPRK and the United States to hold a bilateral dialogue as a prelude and a preparatory stage for resuming the six-party talks," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. Full story
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Tuesday remained cautious toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s recent remarks that it is willing to return to bilateral and multilateral nuclear negotiations.
"It is still early to judge" the DPRK's real intentions, Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's top nuclear envoy, told media.Full story
