China says UNSC statement on N. Korea comprehensive and balanced

A recent United Nations Security Council statement condemning North Korea's provocations is balanced and comprehensive, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson said Monday, urging against any tension-escalating actions.

"Signals the UNSC has sent out are comprehensive and balanced," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a regular briefing, referring to the U.N. council's recent press statement.

The Chinese reaction followed the UNSC's statement unanimously approved by its members on Friday (New York Time) to North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches.

On Aug. 24, North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile from the East Sea, prompting the council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss counteractions. The missile flew some 500 kilometers before landing in waters near Japan.

The latest launch followed another SLBM launch on July 9, and ballistic missile tests on July 19 and Aug. 3.

Condemning the back-to-back ballistic missile tests, the UNSC press statement said they are in violation of UNSC resolutions and vowed to "redouble their efforts" to implement sanctions on North Korea.

North Korea immediately denounced the UNSC action as a threat to the country's dignity, threatening retaliation.

"The UNSC has clear rules with regard to North Korea's missile launches," the spokeswoman said. "We want concerned countries to remain cool and self-controlled and refrain from any acts that could provoke each other or escalate tensions."

China's stance on the Korean Peninsula remains consistent, Hua said, referring to its principle to seek peace and stability and to resolve the issue through dialogue.

The latest UNSC statement comes after China thwarted the U.N. panel's previous attempt to issue a statement condemning North Korea's missile test in August by saying they wanted to reflect their opposition to the THAAD deployment in South Korea in the statement as well. (Yonhap)