The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its principled stance against exclusive small groups and bloc confrontation in response to North Korea’s objection to the Quad (United States, Japan, India, Australia) calling for denuclearization.
During a regular press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed questions about North Korea’s Foreign Ministry’s recent statement that denuclearization will absolutely and forever not exist, which came after the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting emphasized North Korea’s denuclearization.
Mao reiterated that China’s position on the Quad mechanism has been made clear multiple times. It consistently opposes the formation of exclusive small groups and bloc confrontation.
He also added that China’s stance and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue maintain continuity and stability.
The Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions in a joint statement following their meeting in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday.
They condemned North Korea’s illegal ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction development while expressing concern that North Korea’s malicious cyber activities and information technology (IT) personnel operations are funding illegal weapons development.
In response, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry stated in an interview with the Korean Central News Agency that the denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) will absolutely and forever not exist. North Korea criticized the Quad for questioning their legitimate exercise of sovereign rights and accused it of being a political and diplomatic tool to promote the U.S.’ unilateral hegemonic strategy.