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Beijing concerned with rising North Korea tensions, envoy says in Seoul -Breaking

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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO – South Korean soldiers guard Panmunjom, a truce village, inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates the Koreas. April 18, 2018, South Korea. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters – Beijing expressed concern about tensions on the Korean Peninsula, China’s Korean affairs envoy stated as he arrived in Seoul for talks this week. He also said that the root causes and symptoms of tensions must be addressed.

Despite stalled discussions on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, North Korea is conducting a flurry missile and missile tests.

North Korea hadn’t conducted an ICBM/nuclear weapons test since 2017. Washington and Seoul say they are aware of signs that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear attack.

For a political settlement to take place, Liu Xiaoming (Special Representative of China Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs) told reporters late Sunday at Seoul’s Airport that the “legitimate, reasonable concerns of all sides” must be recognized.

He said, “We ask all parties to remain cool-headed” and showed restraint.

Liu will be visiting South Korea for the first time since April 2021 when he took office. He is scheduled to meet Noh Kyu-duk (nuclear envoy) on Tuesday. Yoon Suk Suk-yeol is the South Korean president-elect. He takes office May 10. Yonhap news agency said.

United States have pushed for increased sanctions by the United Nations on North. China and Russia protested, saying that the sanctions must be relaxed to facilitate talks and offer humanitarian aid to the North.

Liu stated that the issues in the Peninsula can be solved politically, and China will play an “positive role”.

He said that North Korea and America are key players in resolving these problems.

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