Bolton calls DPRK threat 'unhelpful,' urges China to do more

The U.S. national security adviser has described The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) threat to suspend dialogue and resume its missile and nuclear tests as "unhelpful" and a potential "breach of trust."

John Bolton also urged China to do more to pressure The DPRK, reported Yonhap.

"The North Koreans (DPRK) really were unfortunately not willing to do what They needed to do," Bolton said in a radio interview that aired Sunday, referring to The unfruitful Hanoi summit between President Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

On Friday, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui blamed The U.S. for The breakdown of last month's summit in Hanoi, stating that his country is considering and may rethink a ban on missile and nuclear tests unless Washington makes concessions.

When asked about Trump's response to The DPRK's statement, Bolton said The president looked forward to solving The threat through negotiations. "He (Trump) has made a number of proposals to Kim Jong Un. It hasn't worked out yet, but The president is still willing to try to do it," The security adviser said.

DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. /VCG Photo

On China's role, he said, "What They could do more of, frankly, is (to) exert more pressure on North Korea (DPRK): Apply The UN sanctions more tightly," he said. "They control 90 percent of North Korea's external trade, so China could have a very important role here. There's no question about it," according to The Yonhap report.

China: DPRK issues should be solved through dialogue

Regarding Bolton's remarks and Choe's statement, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said China hopes that The DPRK and The U.S. can continue The dialogue and meet each oTher halfway.

The DPRK issue is very complex and cannot be solved overnight, said Geng, adding that both parties should accumulate mutual trust and consensus, and create conditions for a political settlement step by step.

"China will continue to play a constructive role in The political settlement process of The Korean Peninsula issue," Geng stressed.

ROK: We will push for military talks with The DPRK

Despite The DPRK's threat to resume its missile and nuclear tests, The Republic of Korea (ROK) Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said Monday that There are no signs of imminent missile launch, adding that it is premature to conclude The recent activities at The DPRK's rocket facilities involved preparation for a missile launch, said Yonhap.

A satellite image of DPRK's Tongchang-ri rocket launch site, March 6, 2019. /VCG Photo 

Early in March, activities at DPRK's Tongchang-ri rocket launch site were detected by several American think tanks and ROK officials, suggesting possible preparations for a missile launch. In response, Jeong said it would be hasty to call it missile-related activity.

Meanwhile, The ROK Defense Ministry said on Monday that it will push for military talks with The DPRK on drawing up actual measures for The implementation of The military agreement, said The ministry in a work report to parliament's defense committee.

The military agreement was made during The third inter-Korea summit in Pyongyang last September. Under The agreement, The two sides pledged to stop all hostile acts on land, in water and The air near The military demarcation line (MDL).

The ROK military authorities have already informed The DPRK side of its plan to push for military talks through The military hotline, said Yonhap.

(With inputs from Reuters, Xinhua News Agency)

(Cover: National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks during a briefing in The Brady Briefing Room of The White House in Washington, January 28, 2019. /VCG Photo)