Russia, China constantly discuss Korean Peninsula’s nuclear issue

BEIJING, February 14. /TASS/. Moscow and Beijing constantly discuss nuclear settlement on the Korean Peninsula, Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov said in an interview with Russian media, also stressing the role of six-party talks (North Korea, South Korea, Japan, the United States, China, and Russia) in finding a solution to the problem. "I would not say that the six-party format has gone into oblivion, just because until recently it has been the only format for discussing the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear program by the parties mostly interested in this," Denisov said. "Now this format is not working, but the countries involved in it have been actively working," he admitted. The meetings are held not only between the US and North Korea, but also bilateral, trilateral and four-way talks take place, signaling that "one way or another, this mechanism is alive and working." Later, if the agreements between key actors, the United States and North Korea, start being implemented, they may be far-reaching and include not only nuclear disarmament, but also humanitarian assistance, economic cooperation, and the six-party talks will become vital, the diplomat said. "So, it is both early and inappropriate to put them on the back burner," Denisov stressed. Moscow-Beijing consultations "It’s no secret that [the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear problem] is an issue for constant discussions between our countries, and not only between them," Denisov went on to say. This issue is also actively discussed at talks between Russia and the US, as well as China and the US, and during regular consultations with South Korean colleagues and partners, and exchanges of views with Japanese diplomats. "So, probably, trilateral and four-way formats are in demand in real life, and this is a bigger number of participants discussing challenging issues." "Together with our Chinese partners we regularly synchronize watches on this important for us and for them and a very pressing issue," he stressed. Most recently consultations have taken place in Moscow on this issue between Russian and Chinese representatives, the ambassador said, stressing that Russia is actively participating in the negotiating process. Read more