Sanctions on the DPRK not goal: FM spokeswoman

• China on Tuesday reaffirmed its opposition to Pyongyang's nuclear tests.

• UNSC Thursday unanimously passed resolution 2094, condemning the DPRK's third nuclear test.

• The DPRK also conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday reaffirmed its opposition to Pyongyang's nuclear tests, and committed to determining peaceful means for achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

"China maintains that sanctions shall not be the objective, and we urges relevant parties to stick to dialogues and explore effective ways of attaining lasting peace and stability in the region under the framework of the six-party talks," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

Hua made the remarks when asked to comment on the U.S. unilateral sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

She did not directly comment on the actions of the United States, but cited the latest resolution of the United Nations Security Council.

The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously passed resolution 2094, condemning the DPRK's third nuclear test, which took place on Feb. 12. The DPRK also conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

The resolution demands that the DPRK not proceed with any further nuclear tests. It also says the country should abandon any nuclear arms programs and return to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The resolution also urges a peaceful, diplomatic and political resolution to the current situation and a resumption of the six-party talks.

Related:

S. Korea urges DPRK not to void armistice agreement

SEOUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) cannot unilaterally nullify the 1953 armistice that suspended the Korean War.

"The terms of the Armistice Agreement cannot be unilaterally rendered invalid or terminated," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Cho Tai-young told reporters in a briefing. "We demand North Korea ( DPRK) withdraw statements that threaten regional peace and stability." Full story

U.S. slaps fresh sanctions on DPRK bank, individuals

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration on Monday slapped fresh sanctions on a primary foreign exchange bank and four individuals in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for their alleged role in the Asian country's nuclear and missile programs.

The Department of Treasury blacklisted the Foreign Trade Bank ( FTB) in Pyongyang and Paek Se-Bong, chairman of DPRK's Second Economic Committee (SEC), while the State Department moved against Pak To-Chun, Chu Kyu-Chang and O Kuk-Ryol, senior officials of the DPRK government. Full story