China denounces "brazen" North Korea nuclear test http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-10-09T051222Z_01_SP204522_RTRUKOC_0_US-KOREA-NORTH-CHINA.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-worldNews-2
Mon Oct 9, 2006
BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Monday it firmly opposed North Korea's nuclear test, denouncing it as "brazen" in unusually strong language, and demanded Pyongyang stop any action that could worsen the situation.
China also urged North Korea to return to six-party talks it has hosted aimed at dismantling the North's nuclear programmes. The talks, which have been stalled for nearly a year, also group South Korea, Japan, the United States and Russia.
"The DPRK has ignored the widespread opposition of the international community and conducted a nuclear test brazenly on October 9," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn).
The DPRK is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
"The Chinese government is firmly opposed to this," the Foreign Ministry said.
The statement used language that was unusually forceful for China, a neighbor and traditional Communist ally of North Korea that has advocated engagement and dialogue over stronger moves such as sanctions.
"The Chinese side strongly demands the North Korean side to abide by its pledges on denuclearisation and to stop any action that would worsen the situation," it said.
"Preserving peace and stability in northeast Asia accords with the joint interests of all sides. The Chinese government calls on all sides to respond calmly, and upholds a peaceful resolution through negotiation and dialogue."
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