Wider use of nuclear weapons to counter threat from North Korea will only make the region more unstable, says Chinese ambassador to the US
China’s ambassador to the US has dismissed suggestions that South Korea and Japan should have nuclear weapons to counter the threat posed by North Korea.
Ambassador Cui Tiankai told reporters at an embassy event in Washington that the potential spread of nuclear weapons in the region would not bring security to anybody.
“It could only make things much worse,” said Cui. “We are certainly opposed to the existence of nuclear weapons anywhere on the Korean peninsula … anywhere” Cui said.
The Chinese envoy’s comments on Friday came after the latest North Korean missile test, which flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
North Korean state media said on Saturday the nation’s aims was to seek an “equilibrium” of military force with the United States.
The statement followed an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council where the reclusive nation was once again condemned for its nuclear tests.
North Korea vows to continue nuclear tests despite condemnation from UN Security Council
South Korea’s Defence Minister, Song Young-moo, said at a parliamentary hearing in Seoul last week, that some lawmakers and media were strongly pushing for nuclear weapons to be redeployed on the peninsula, The Washington Post reported.
“The deployment of [US] tactical nuclear weapons is an alternative worth a full review,” Song was quoted as saying.
The weapons could include short-range missiles, artillery shells and other armaments equipped with nuclear warheads.
