OCTOBER 12 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK NUCLEAR TEST;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 021641

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN KS NP
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 12 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK NUCLEAR TEST;
ROH AND RICE VISITS; NEPAL BORDER SHOOTING; TAIWAN
INVITATION TO APEC


1. Key Points made at the October 12 Press Briefing were:

-- The DPRK must not further worsen the Korean peninsula
nuclear situation.

-- Six-Party Talks remain the best method for resolving the
crisis, however direct dialogue between the United States and
DPRK would help narrow differences.

-- China remains firmly opposed to any military action in the
Korean peninsula.

-- Japanese consideration of a missile defense system, in
light of the DPRK test, is a matter for Japan.

-- South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun will visit China
October 13 to meet with President Hu Jintao.

-- China and the United States are discussing a possible
visit to China by Secretary Rice.

-- The MFA has made no contact with Nepal regarding the
border shooting of a Tibetan nun two weeks ago.

DPRK Nuclear Test
--------------


2. At the October 12 regularly scheduled MFA Press Briefing,
Spokesperson Liu Jianchao said the DPRK must stop any further
actions that could further worsen the situation. Repeating
the PRC's official position, Liu said China hopes all parties
act responsibly in "a cool-headed manner" and resume the
Six-Party Talks.


3. China will continue to consult with other UN Security
Council members on appropriate action that will help
establish a denuclearized Korean peninsula, said Liu. Asked
by Reuters whether China opposed Chapter 7 sanctions outright
or just in part, Liu said that all parties of the UNSC have
proposed solutions to the issue, and all measures, including
Chapter 7 and the U.S.-draft resolution, were being
discussed. China also has a comprehensive resolution for
consideration. Liu was unable to comment on any specific
article of the resolution, but assrted that China remains
firmly opposed to anymilitary action to resolve the problem
in the Korean peninsula. Any measures, including Chapter 7,
should be studied as to their ability to benefit
denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and stability in
Northeast Asia, he said.


4. Liu reiterated China's support of the Six-Party Talks
process as being the best, most practical forum for resolving
the North Korean nuclear situation. Responding to a UPI
reporter's question on whether China supported bilateral
talks between the United States and the DPRK, Liu said direct
talks would help to narrow their differences but at this
stage differences were so great that the Talks remain the
best opportunity to build trust and the best method for
resolution.


5. Liu sidestepped several question on whether President Hu
Jintao had spoken directly to Kim Jong-Il after the test and
at what level China was in contact with the DPRK. China had
stayed in contact with other parties, including the other
members of the UNSC, the EU and Canada. He had no
information on whether a special envoy or delegation would be
sent to the DPRK.


6. China remains dedicated to the development of a "good
neighbor relationship" with the DPRK, provided that the main
purpose of economic assistance is to help the DPRK improve
the livelihoods and conditions of the population, Liu said.

"PUNISH" VS. "PUNITIVE"
--------------


7. A Hong Kong commercial radio reporter asked Liu to
distinguish between his October 10 statement that
"punishment" should not be used when discussing measures to
respond to North Korea and UN Ambassador Wang Guangya's
comment that measures should be "punitive," prompting Liu to
state that both comments represent the view of the Chinese
government. Liu stressed that the point of both comments was
that all parties should focus on the denuclearization of the
Korean peninsula, as opposed to how best to punish the DPRK.

JAPAN REACTION AND MISSILE DEFENSE
--------------


8. China understands the concerns of all parties in the
region, but hopes that any actions taken in response to the

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DPRK nuclear test strengthen stability on the peninsula, Liu
said. Specifically, Japan's reconsideration of a missile
defense system was a matter of Japan's internal affairs, he
said in response to a question by a Japanese reporter.

ROK PRESIDENT ROH TO VISIT TOMORROW
--------------


9. South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun will visit China
October 12 to meet with President Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and
Wu Bangguo. Liu said discussions would focus on China-ROK
relations and the current situation on the Korean peninsula.

POSSIBLE SECRETARY RICE VISIT; TANG IN U.S.
--------------


10. A reporter asked whether Secretary Rice was going to
visit China next week. Liu confirmed the United States and
China were discussing a possible visit, but there was no
agreement as yet. In response to a question by the same
reporter, Liu said President Hu's Special Envoy Tang Jiaxuan
is in the United States discussing the latest Korean
peninsula developments.

CHINA-NEPAL BORDER SHOOTING
--------------


11. Liu denied knowledge of the alleged shooting by Chinese
border patrol at Tibetans along the China-Nepal border. A
reporter for AP pointed out the incident was over two weeks
old and that surely by now the MFA had been in contact with
the Nepalese government, but Liu said that if it had happened
the appropriate Chinese authority was investigating the
incident, not the MFA. A reporter for the Scotsman claimed
western climbers had witnessed the incident and photographed
the bodies of two who had been killed. Liu said he doubted
the reporter's ensuing assertion that the climbers were then
contacted by Chinese officials in Kathmandu to discuss the
incident.

PRESSURE ON VIETNAM TO NOT INVITE TAIWAN TO APEC
-------------- ---


12. In response to a Taiwanese newspaper reporter seeking
comment on whether China pressured Vietnam not to invite
Taiwan to APEC, Liu said all parties understood the One China
principle and China hoped Vietnam would handle invitations to
APEC accordingly.

Randt