FM spokeswoman: China supports DPRK-U.S. dialogue

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday said it supported contacts and dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks in response to a question related to a joint New Year editorial on the foreign policy stand of the DPRK government.

The joint editorial of three DPRK newspapers said the fundamental task for ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Asia was to end hostility between the DPRK and the U.S., the official KCNA news agency reported.

The DPRK consistently worked to establish a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula and make it nuclear-free through dialogue and negotiations, the editorial said.

Jiang Yu said at a regular press conference that China hoped all sides would work together to resume the six-party talks at an early date and promote the denuclearization of the Peninsula.

The six-party nuclear talks, involving the DPRK, the United States, China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, have been stalled since the DPRK quit in April last year in protest against the UN condemnation of its missile tests.

The DPRK editorial said the nation would strive to develop relations of good-neighborliness and friendship with other countries and achieve global independence under the unfurled banner of independence, peace and friendship.

Jiang said China actively supported increased cooperation between the DPRK and the neighboring Republic of Korea.

Increasing reconciliation and cooperation between the north andsouth would benefit all peoples of the peninsula, Jiang said.

"It is in accordance with common interests of both sides and also conducive to regional peace and stability," she said.