China wants to preserve North Korean stability

China's government said Thursday it hopes to preserve North Korean stability following a U.S. appeal for Beijing to pressure its isolated ally back into nuclear disarmament talks.

Photo: China wants to preserve North Korean stability

"China has a solemn position to ensure a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and will continue to work toward this. On the other hand, China hopes to see a prosperous and stable North Korea," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

Liu was responding to comments Wednesday in Washington by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, who said Beijing was hesitant to use its leverage as the North's main ally and aid donor.

China has organized multiple rounds of six-nation talks aimed at persuading the North to give up nuclear weapons development, but the negotiations have made little progress toward a final settlement, reports the AP.

I.L.