Special report: DPRK's nuclear test>>>

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Tuesday (Oct 10th) that the six-party talks as a mechanism to resolve differences are "not a failure" despite the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He also urged the concerned parties to remain cool-headed and make efforts to resolve the issue within the framework of six-party talks.

According to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK has conducted an underground nuclear test on Monday.

"I don't think it (the nuclear test) should be regarded as a failure of China's foreign policy and a failure of the six-party mechanism. The concerned parties should continue to generate effort to keep the six-party talks mechanism on track," Liu said at a routine press conference.

"The six parties, together with most countries in the world, are willing to resolve the Korean nuclear issue through consultation and dialogue under the six-party talks framework, which is enough to prove that the mechanism is still the best way to resolve the issue", Liu added.

The six parties, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, converged five rounds of talks aiming to settle the nuclear issue of Korean Peninsula.

The talks stalled after the DPRK criticized the United States for imposing economic sanctions after the first phase of the fifth round of talks ended last November.

Calling the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue "tough" and "complicated", the spokesman said joint efforts should be employed to implement the consensus that has already been reached and work for an early resumption of the six-party talks.

"All efforts should be conducive to the realization of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, to the peace and development of the Peninsula and Northeast Asia and to the early resumption of the six-party talks," said Liu.

The nuclear test, the first by the DPRK, came about a week after the country announced it would carry out the atomic.

According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese government is resolutely opposed to the DPRK's "flagrant conduct" as it ignored the international community's opposition to the test.

Despite the KCNA's assurance there was no danger of radioactive emissions from what was called a safe test, and the DPRK Foreign Ministry's assurance the country would never use nuclear weapons first, the test still has drawn sharp criticism and grave concern from the international community.

UN Security Council president of the month, Japan's UN Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, urged the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program and programs relating to missiles.

U.S. President George W. Bush said the United States condemned the test and demanded immediate UN Security Council action.

Admitting the nuclear test has had a negative impact on the bilateral ties, Liu said China has not changed its policy toward developing good-neighborly relations.

Liu said China is making diplomatic inquiries and hopes for positive responses from other parties concerned. China will continue to contact and consult with all parties concerned to bring them back to talks.

As the host country of the talks, Liu said, China has played an important role and made unremitting efforts to resolve the nuclear issue.

Editor: Donald