- Title: CHINA: Beijing urges stability on Korean peninsula
- Date: 31st December 2011
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (DECEMBER 30, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL EMBLEM CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI SAYING: "Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is consistent with the common interes
- Embargoed: 15th January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China, China
- Country: China
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB3FVMHQJX7XH2ZGHDYLMHESRJ
- Story Text: China said on Friday (December 30) that it hoped North and South Korea could reconcile and improve ties.
North Korea sounded a bellicose note in its first communication with the outside world since the death of leader Kim Jong-il on Friday, saying its confrontational stance against South Korea would not change and labelling its opponents "foolish".
Since Kim Jong-il died on December 17, the outside world has been watching to see whether his son Kim Jong-un, aged in his 20s, would stick to its hardline "military first" policies that have seen the isolated nation move closer to nuclear weapons capacity.
"Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is consistent with the common interests of both North and South Korea and all parties involved. We support North and South Korea in improving relations and promote reconciliation and co-operation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference in Beijing.
China is the North's only major ally and the North has long relied on Beijing for diplomatic and economic support.
Beijing also pledged to strengthen management of Chinese fishermen after several illegal fishing incidents caused trouble with its neighbours.
Japan's prosecutors have indicted the captain of a Chinese fishing boat for illegally operating in Japanese waters following his arrest on December 20, official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.
Hong said both countries were working together towards a proper solution.
"China has been in close contact with Japan to push for a proper resolution to the incident. The Chinese government always requires its fishermen to operate legally. The relevant departments have made a lot of efforts in this and will strengthen management and instruction from now on," said Hong.
Chinese fishing boats are frequently caught fishing near foreign waters, sometimes leading to violent clashes with local maritime police.
In early December, a South Korean coastguard was stabbed to death by a Chinese fisherman in an operation to apprehend a Chinese vessel operating illegally near South Korean waters, fuelling anger among Koreans. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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