Pyongyang's repeated nuclear tests and missile launches as well as Washington's tit-for-tat warlike threats have trapped the Korean Peninsula into a vicious circle. Even Worse, its spillover effects have taken a heavy toll on the interests of regional countries.
It is true that Pyongyang's moves violated UN Security Council resolutions and norms of international law, and also threatened peace and stability in the region and beyond.
However, U.S. pro-war rhetoric and coercive measures, ironically, are addressing a mistake by creating an even bigger one.
The White House is pressing for the toughest sanctions at the UN Security Council in response to DPRK's sixth and largest nuclear test on Sunday, as its UN envoy even said Pyongyang was "begging for war."
History has shown that U.S. sanctions and military intervention have caused humanitarian crises or even years of turmoil in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, instead of achieving policy changes and peace it advertises.
It is difficult for the Trump administration to convince the world that similar policies will make a difference on the Korean Peninsula, given the fact that Pyongyang sees its nuclear program as an essential shield against towering foes like the United States and stronger neighbor South Korea.
The current nuclear issue, as China reiterated, is in essence a security issue. If Washington keeps cornering Pyongyang by its belligerent tone and military exercises on its doorstep, the last thing Pyongyang would discard is its nuclear capability.
Meanwhile, the crisis has already spilled over to endanger regional peace and stability. The deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea, alleged by Seoul to respond Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, has substantially undermined regional strategic balance and harmed the security interests of regional countries like China and Russia.
China has for years been committed to preserving a non-proliferation regime, maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and resolving the nuclear issue through dialogue, which has won widespread approval and applause from around the world.
By proposing "suspension for suspension" and "dual-track" initiatives, Beijing upholds and reiterates the direction toward a peaceful settlement of the issue.
Intimidation brings no submission but repercussions. Only dialogue can create a platform and opportunities for related parties to discuss and address their problems and concerns, producing hope for peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis.
