China claimed Thursday that its efforts to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's recent artillery attack on the South have been unfairly rebuked.
Beijing proposed Sunday that chief negotiators in the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament hold an emergency meeting early this month to discuss ways of easing tensions on the last remaining Cold War front in the world.
"Russia has supported China's proposal to hold the emergency talks among six-party talks members," Jiang Yu, spokeswoman for the
Chinese foreign ministry, said during a regular press briefing.
Jiang reiterated China's initial stance.
"The starting point of the proposal on the emergency talks was to provide an opportunity among the members to have contact with each
other, and to defuse the escalated tensions," she said. "We need to resolve the problem through dialogue."
Inter-Korean tensions have come to a head after North Korea fired artillery on a South Korean island near the disputed maritime border
nine days ago. The North's attack on Yeonpyeong Island, which is home to fishing communities and military bases, killed two South Korean marines and as many civilians, and left 18 others wounded.
The provocation has drawn flak from the international community and angered South Koreans, as it was their bitter rival's first attack on civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War.
Jiang declined to comment on a possible visit to North Korea by China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who advises top Chinese officials on foreign policy. Dai made an unannounced trip to Seoul on Saturday and paid a visit to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to discuss measures for easing tensions on the peninsula.
"China is continuing on its diplomatic activities and closely communicating with related parties," she said. "There is no news to
announce."
The spokeswoman refuted claims that China is taking sides with North Korea. "We express our sorrow over the deaths of the victims, but we passed such judgment because there is a complicated background behind the incident," she said.