China has reiterated its “double freeze” call to ease tensions in the Korean peninsula, frayed by Wednesday’s launch of a powerful new ballistic missile that Pyongyang claims can cover the entire United States.
“We think that the double freeze initiative is a viable approach in the current stage. Hope various parties can come to the path of dialogue and negotiations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in response to a question.
China and Russia have proposed the “double freeze” or “double suspension” proposal. It calls for North Korea halting its nuclear and missile programme in return for the U.S. and South Korea suspending their major military exercises in the peninsula.
In his response to Wednesday’s test, Mr. Geng stopped short of condemning North Korea’s action, and also counseled Pyongyang’s detractors to exercise restraint. “China expresses grave concern and opposition to the relevant launch activity and strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to observe the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and stop actions that heighten tensions on the Korean peninsula.”
He added: “At the same time we also hope that the relevant parties will act cautiously and work together for the peace and stability of this region.”
Earlier this month, Mr. Geng had reaffirmed China’s commitment to the “double suspension” formulation, following remarks by the U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that Beijing no longer considered this proposal relevant.
“We believe that the ‘dual suspension’ proposal is the most feasible, fair and sensible plan in the present situation,” Mr. Geng had observed. “Not only can it relieve the present tense situation, it can also resolve all parties most pressing security concerns, and provide an opportunity and create conditions to resume talks, and find a breakthrough point to get out of trouble,” he added.
“We hope that all sides can conscientiously treat and proactively consider China’s proposal, and at the same time we welcome relevant parties to put forward proposals that can benefit the promotion of a peaceful.
Earlier on Wednesday, North Korea declared that it could now target the entire U.S. with nuclear weapons, following the launch of its ICBM. “Today we completed our nuclear missile program,” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency .
The missile reached an altitude of about 4,500 km — the highest of any test so far. The Nikkei Asian Review quoted a South Korean expert as saying that had the projectile been launched at a normal angle, its range could have been over 10,000km.That would be sufficient for the missile to reach Washington, D.C.
Despite the extension of its range, analysts say that Pyongyang may still have work to do to reduce the size of its nuclear warheads that can be launched by its missiles.
