Sanctions on DPRK should not impact humanitarian aid: Chinese envoy

Sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) should not impact humanitarian aid to the country as per relevant Security Council resolutions, said a Chinese envoy on Wednesday.

Wu Haitao, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made this point after the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts that assists a DPRK sanctions committee of the council.

China supports the Panel of Experts going about its work as mandated, and voted in favor of the mandate extension, said Wu.

The Panel of Experts and the sanctions committee should act strictly within the parameters of their mandates. All parties concerned should implement the DPRK-related resolutions of the Security Council in a comprehensive, complete, and accurate manner, he said.

The Security Council should stay united and jointly advance the process toward a political settlement of the issue of the Korean Peninsula. There is no alternative to a peaceful solution through political dialogue, said Wu.

For dialogue to continue and make headway, the key is to address the legitimate concerns of the parties concerned in a balanced manner, and advance denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism for the peninsula by following a phased approach with synchronized steps as a package solution, he said.

China has always been committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, to the maintenance of peace and stability on the peninsula, and to a settlement of the issue through dialogue and consultation, said Wu.

China has been consistent in implementing the relevant resolutions of the Security Council in a comprehensive and strict manner. China attaches importance to the work of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies in the DPRK and is ready to continue providing necessary support and assistance, he said.

China will continue to engage closely with the parties concerned and play a positive role in achieving the Korean Peninsula’s denuclearization and securing lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia, he said.