Foreign Ministry official says China will remain in talks with both sides

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=A9fjMfdBCOo

(18 Feb 2013) SHOTLIST • Dandong, Liaoning province - 13 February 2013 • 1. Wide of China-North Korea Friendship Bridge between Dandong (China) and Sinuiju (North Korea) • 2. Mid of train entering China through border bridge from North Korea • 3. Chinese flag • 4. Soldiers patrolling border area in Dandong • 5. Pan from Chinese soldiers to bridge • Beijing - 18 February 2013 • 6. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman arriving for a regular news briefing • 7. Reporter taking notes • 8. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman: • The Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry has already issued a solemn statement on North Korea's nuclear test, and expressed firm opposition to North Korea's nuclear test. The United Nations discussion on the relevant issue should be conducive to denuclearisation, non-proliferation and maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. China is willing to stay in contact with all sides on this discussion. • Dandong, Liaoning province - 13 February 2013 • 9. Pan from buildings on the Chinese side to Yalu river • 10. Wide bridge tower under construction • 11. Men looking at the construction site • 12. Bridge under construction • Beijing - 18 February 2013 • 13. Media • 14. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman: • Maintaining peace and stability in the Peninsula is beneficial for all relevant sides. It is also the common responsibility of all sides. The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and sensitive. We hope all sides will calmly handle it and not take any measures that might make the situation worse. • 15. Wide of Hong leaving briefing room • Dandong, Liaoning province - 13 February 2013 • 16. Border fence with sign reading (Chinese character): Neighbours friendship, mutual construction of harmony • 17. Barbed wire along the borderline, zoom in to building in the North Korean side • 18. Tilt down from barbed wire to North Korean village • 19. Various of people in the village on the North Korean side of border • STORYLINE • China called on all the sides of the escalating tension in the Korean peninsula to show restraint, following North Korea's recent nuclear test in defiance of international condemnation. • Comments by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei were relatively mild and echoed almost word-for-word China's responses to North Korea's first two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. • He said China expressed its firm opposition to the test, urged a calm response by all sides, and called for new denuclearisation talks. • The United Nations discussion on the relevant issue should be conducive to denuclearisation, non-proliferation and maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, Hong said, in the first news conference since the detonation of a nuclear device by North Korea. • Following the test, China issued a similar statement maintaining its resolute stance of advocating a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, opposition to nuclear proliferation, and support for the maintenance of stability on the peninsula. • The earlier statement from the Foreign Ministry, and the recent comments by Hong, reflect Beijing's growing frustration with its communist neighbour's provocative behaviour, as well as its reluctance to impose more severe measures that could destabilise the North's hardline regime. • The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and sensitive. We hope all sides will calmly handle it and do not take any measures that might make the situation worse, Hong said. • North Korea's apparent reluctance to reform its economy ranks among Beijing's biggest frustrations. • • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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