China Teaches US To Solve North Korea's Missile And Nuclear Problems, Ambassador Zhang Jun: They Must Be Flexible

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun. (Source: FMPRC.Gov.Cn)

JAKARTA - The key to solving the problems of North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs is in the hands of the United States, China's envoy to the United Nations said on Friday, urging Washington to show "more sincerity and flexibility" if it wants a breakthrough.

"They have to come up with more attractive and more practical approaches, policies and actions, more flexible in accommodating North Korea's problems," Ambassador Zhang Jun told reporters, citing Reuters Feb. 5.

"The key in solving this problem is in the hands of the United States," he stressed.

He was speaking ahead of a closed-door UN Security Council meeting requested by the United States to discuss North Korea's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile last Sunday.

Contrary to the advice of Ambassador Zhang Jun. Following the meeting, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters: "We have to keep pushing."

He also read out a joint statement by more than half of the UN Security Council condemning North Korea's latest missile launch, warning that continued silence by the 15-member body would only embolden Pyongyang.

The eight-member council, consisting of the United States, Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom along with Japan, described Sunday's launch as a "significant escalation" that "seeks to further destabilize the region."

North Korea missile test. (Source: KCNA)

They said North Korea had carried out nine ballistic missile launches in January, describing it as the largest number in a single month in the history of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.

It is known that North Korea's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches are prohibited by the UN Security Council. Diplomats said the United States had proposed the council issue a statement.

"We call on all council members to speak with one voice in condemning this dangerous and unlawful act," the eight council members and Japan said in the statement.

"The risk of silence of the council is too high. This will embolden the DPRK to further oppose the international community."

Thomas-Greenfield said there was no reason for the council to "appreciate" Pyongyang for its ballistic missile test.

"We continue to urge (North Korea) to respond positively to offers from the United States and others to meet without preconditions," the eight council members and Japan said.

Ambassador Zhang said the council should only issue a statement if it "helps to reduce tensions." Such a statement by the board must be approved by consensus.

North Korea confirmed on Monday that it had launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, the same weapon that once threatened to target the US territory of Guam, sparking fears the nuclear-armed nation could resume long-range testing.

This is the first time North Korea has tested a nuclear-capable missile of such magnitude since 2017.

Pyongyang has postponed nuclear weapons tests and long-range ballistic missile launches, while leader Kim Jong Un met with then-US President Donald Trump twice, first in Singapore in 2018 and then Vietnam in 2019.

Zhang cited the meeting and the suspension of the test, asking: "What has the US done?"

Meanwhile, Thomas-Greenfield said other ballistic missile launches had continued over the past few years and US President Joe Biden could not commit to meeting Kim until Washington had a "better sense of what it was trying to achieve."

To note, diplomacy with North Korea has stalled since a summit between Trump and Kim, which failed to produce an agreement. Pyongyang wants US and UN sanctions removed. There has been no easing of US or UN action, but China and Russia have said the Security Council should consider such a move.