UN Security Council preparing response to latest DPRK mission launch

Members of the UN Security Council are working on a statement in response to the latest test missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the council president told reporters here Friday.

Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations who holds the rotating council presidency for April, made the remarks while briefing reporters on his month-long president of the 15-nation council.

He revealed the discussions while endorsing a multi-dimensional approach that could include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon using his "good offices" to help resolve the crisis. He also repeated calls for all parties to refrain from aggravating actions or words.

"The Security Council so far issued two presidential press statements on the 'tests' conducted by DPRK and we are working on a third one among members of the council," he said. "It is really a volatile situation."

Published reports said the DPRK had two test missile launch failures Thursday, despite prohibitions laid down by relevant council resolutions.

"The way out is to have political negotiations of the problems that we face and for us three objectives are there: first denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, second peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and third a negotiated solution," Liu said.

"The secretary-general of the United Nations is an institution in itself and it has the function as laid down in the (UN) Charter of carrying out good offices to calm the situation down and to address situations called to his attention, but of course for any such role to take place there should be necessary conditions," he said.

"The secretary-general's role would be welcomed and we hope that the conditions will be there for the secretary-general to play a constructive role to facilitate the settlement of the problems that we face on the Korean Peninsula to de-escalate tensions, to advise all sides, relevant sides, to refrain from any terminology or action that might aggravate the existing serious tension on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

Liu said the March 2 Security Council Resolution 2270 in response to a January nuclear test by the DPRK and a February missile launch "is not only about the necessary measures put in place but also about resumption of negotiations, de-escalation of the situation, particularly the references made to the Six-Party Talks and the Sept. 19 statement" in 2005.

In that statement, the DPRK agreed to end its nuclear testing.

"All these are areas where the relevant members of the United Nations should make an effort and should try to achieve progress," Liu said. "At the end of the day only negotiations can produce a lasting solution of the acute problems we face on the Korean Peninsula and also I don't see any better alternative than the Six-Party Talks as the effective platform for negotiations."

The Six-Party Talks involve the DPRK, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States. The talks have been stalled since late 2008.

"I think to try to find a solution to the very complex problems on the Korean Peninsula, we will need a multi-dimensional approach," he said.