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Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese government’s special representative on Korean Peninsula affairs, poses for a photo with Sung Kim, the US special representative for North Korea, while on a visit to Washington on April 7. (from Liu Xiaoming’s Twitter page)

China has indicated to the US that it opposes additional UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea despite the North’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

This reiteration of Beijing’s stance comes amid fears that Pyongyang could conduct additional missile launches or resume its nuclear testing around April 15, which is North Korea’s biggest holiday — known as the Day of Sun, marking the birth of Kim Il-sung 110 years ago.

According to an announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, Special Representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming met and shared thoughts on the Korean Peninsula situation with US senior officials during a recent visit to Washington on April 4–7, including Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, US Special Representative for the DPRK Sung Kim, and Kurt Campbell, who coordinates the White House’s Indo-Pacific policy.

During the meeting, Liu “elaborated on China’s principled position on the Korean Peninsula issue and underscored that given the current situation on the Peninsula, it is most imperative for relevant parties to remain cool-headed, exercise restraint and avoid taking actions that could escalate tensions,” the ministry said.

This suggested that the adoption of a UNSC resolution sanctioning North Korea would be seen as an “action that could escalate tension.”

In a Twitter post the day before, Liu wrote, “Any action [the UNSC] takes should be conducive to de-escalation and dialogue, instead of adding fuel to the fire.”

To date, China has joined Russia in calling for the resumption of negotiations based on a moratorium on additional UNSC sanctions against the North and the easing of existing ones.

By Jung In-hwan, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]