China has noticed that the DPRK has said it had no intention to develop nuclear weapons and may accept inspection through bilateral channels with the United States, the foreign minister said.

"China has made a lot of efforts to promote the peaceful talks" between the two sides, Tang said.

He said China's basic stance on the DPRK nuclear issue is that the Korean Peninsula should be denuclearized and peace and stability on the peninsula be maintained, underlining that the most effective means to resolve the issue is to realize the direct dialogue between the DPRK and the United States.

The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is conducive to the DPRK and the countries concerned, Tang said.

The deadlock between the DPRK and the US, he added, stems from the lack of trust between the two sides.

China is in opposition to exerting pressures or imposing sanctions against the DPRK owing to the nuclear issue, because such actions would make the situation on the peninsula even more complicated and not helpful to the resolving of the DPRK nuclear issue, he said.

Meanwhile, he said China would adopt positive and open attitude towards whatever means beneficial to peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the peaceful resolving of the DPRK nuclear issue.

He went on to note what attitude the DPRK and the United States adopt determines how the DPRK nuclear issue would be resolved.

China has always done its best to the resolving of the issue, which has been proven effective, the foreign minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2003)