China backs six-party talks following S. Korea's indication to ease peninsula tensions

Beijing, Dec 31 (ANI): China has reportedly rendered its support yet again for holding six-party talks after South Korea signalled to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"Talks and negotiations are the only correct and effective approach to solve issues on the Korean Peninsula and realize its long-term peace and stability," the China Daily quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, as saying.

Jiang made the remarks when commenting on the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's call for revived international talks to resolve the problem of the DPRK a day earlier, apparently softening his stance.

"We sincerely support the two sides (in) conducting good contacts and dialogues," adding that "no choice but to resolve the problem of dismantling North Korea's (DPRK) nuclear program diplomatically through the Six-Party Talks."

Beijing proposed an emergency meeting among the heads of the delegations, including North Korea, South Korea, China, the United States, Russia and Japan, to hold Six-Party Talks, shortly after the November 23 exchange of artillery fire.

On Thursday, a defense white paper published by the South Korea has said that the North's immediate threat to Seoul has grown, with 20,000 more special warfare troops deployed near their border along with 200 new tanks.

North Korea is believed to have 200 more tanks than previously identified, at 4,100 units, but the scale of its artillery firepower remained roughly equal to two years ago, the white paper added.

Zhang indicated more diplomatic conflicts and military confrontations on the Korean Peninsula over the next year, and that "the possibility of a war at certain scale between the ROK and DPRK cannot be ruled out". (ANI)