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China calls emergency meet on Korean crisis

BEIJING: China on Sunday proposed “emergency consultations” among representatives of the Six-Party Talks — which involve North and South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States — to address rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula following Tuesday's exchange of artillery fire.

China believed it was “necessary” for the heads of delegations to exchange views and make contributions “to ease tensions in Northeast Asia,” said Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, who is China's special representative for the Korean Peninsula. Mr. Wu suggested the consultations could take place in Beijing in early December.

China's proposal, announced on Sunday afternoon at a hurriedly-scheduled press briefing, came just as South Korea and the U.S. began a four-day military exercise, which the North has warned would bring the region to the “brink of war”.

China's offer received a cautious response from South Korea, which has been opposed to the resumption of the talks as long as the North continued with its controversial nuclear programme.

The talks have been stalled for two years after North Korea conducted missile tests and quit the talks.

“Our government will take note of China's proposal,” said the South Korean Foreign Ministry in a statement, adding that it would “very carefully consider” the offer.

Mr. Wu said December's consultations would not signal a resumption of the stalled talks, but China hoped it would create conditions for doing so.

“The Six-Party Talks play an important role in strengthening communication between parties, advancing denuclearisation and safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia,” he said.

“China's consistent position is that the Six-Party talks must be resumed at an early date,” he added. China has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in recent days to address the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Tuesday's exchange of fire, which marked the most serious escalation in tensions since the end of the Korean War in 1953, left at least four dead and 18 injured on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, which was shelled by the North.

Each side has accused the other of starting the hostilities.

China's State Councillor Dai Bingguo held talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in Seoul on Sunday, with both sides expressing willingness to work together to achieve peace and stability, said Mr. Wu.

Mr. Dai also voiced China's opposition to any moves that would “undermine peace and stability”, suggesting Beijing had reiterated its concerns over the on-going military exercises being conducted by the U.S. and South Korea in the Yellow Sea.

The North has warned that the four-day exercises, which began on Sunday, would bring the region to the “brink of war”.

Mr. Lee called on China, which is the North's only major ally, to take a “fair and responsible” position, reported the Seoul-based Yonhap news agency.

Mr. Lee also ruled out resumption of the Six-Party Talks, but did not immediately respond to China's proposal for consultations.

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