Denuclearization must not be derailed

China has fulfilled its due responsibility to push for efforts to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free, and fully and strictly implemented the United Nations resolutions in that regard. As tensions on the peninsula escalate, it is all the more necessary for related parties to exercise restraint, rather than making provocative moves. After all, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula aligns with the common interests of all parties.

It is counterproductive therefore for the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea to launch a new multinational team to monitor the enforcement of sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in place of a monitoring mechanism at the UN, rather than returning to the track of dialogue and negotiation, which has proved the most effective means of calming the peninsula situation.

The so-called Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team has been introduced after Russia in March rejected the annual renewal of the UN panel of experts that had over the past 15 years overseen the implementation of sanctions aimed at curbing the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs.