MANILA, Philippines — A ranking American diplomat is urging China to use its close ties to North Korea and convince it to halt its “provocations” in the wake of another launching of a missile over the weekend.
Robert Wood, US Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, told reporters in a conference call Tuesday that there is no bigger challenge to peace and security than the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).
“So we are going to be raising the level of engagement with China on this issue. China really is the key to dealing with the North Korean issue. Ninety percent of the DPRK’s trade is with China, so clearly there is a lot more leverage that China has, and we would like China to use in trying to deal with this issue,” Wood said.
Wood has been taking part in the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons NPT.
The NPT entered into force in 1970. According to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, the NPT was designed “to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to further the goals of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.”
Wood said he was “heartened by the chorus of condemnation” of the DPRK’s actions, and added that majority of states, led by the Republic of Korea and France, are willing to sign a statement to emphasize the NPT community’s desire for North Korea to change its course.
The statement stresses that “something has to give with regards to the DPRK, (and) the DPRK has to take steps to prevent the escalation of further tension,” Wood explained.
“One thing notable: China and Russia did not join. I’m not quite sure why,” he added.
Wood said North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests so far, and hoped that it would not conduct any more.
According to Reuters, North Korea is working to develop a long-range missile with a nuclear warhead capable of striking the mainland US.
It quoted North Korea’s ambassador to China, Ji Jae Ryong, as telling reporters on Monday that the test firing of intercontinental ballistic missiles would continue “at any time and place, at the will of North Korea’s highest leadership.”
US President Donald Trump had earlier told Reuters that a “major, major conflict” with North Korea was possible.
Wood said they were looking at a number of measures – political, economic, and security-related – to deal with North Korea’s “dangerous acts.” They would be focusing on how they could isolate North Korea even more so as to convince the latter to turn its back on the “very dangerous path” it was treading on.
At the same time, Wood announced the US’ donation of 1 million euros to the International Atomic Energy Agency so it could develop peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
