MANILA, Aug. 6 — China is opposing the imposition of sanctions on North Korea despite its continued nuclear development activities, as it pushed for dialogue and negotiation on the issue.
“We have opposed to unilateral sanctions and we oppose actions to impose sanctions on another sovereign state by citing domestic law. That is no basis in international laws,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told journalists following the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting here.
Wang believed that dialogue and negotiations are the “correct way out to address the Korean peninsula issue”.
He noted that such directions were provided in just concluded Resolution 2371, which was endorsed by all the 15 members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, including the United States.
The UN Security Council issued Resolution 2371 on Aug. 5, strengthening its sanctions regime against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and reaffirming its decision that Pyongyang shall abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called on the DPRK anew to exercise self-restraint with regards to its nuclear and missile tests, as they support for denuclearization of Pyongyang.
North Korea conducted its first tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles last July 4 and 28 following previous ballistic missile launches and two nuclear tests in 2016.
For its part, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) acting Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said the Philippines has been consistent in its support for the various UN Security Council resolutions.
Foreign ministers from 27 countries are gathering in Manila for the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meeting which are being held on Aug. 2 to 8. (PNA)
