Beijing: Sanction not to impact DPRK livelihood

The Foreign Ministry has said that the expected UNSC resolution "should not affect the regular livelihood of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's people".

Observers said China called to avoid any unnecessary or potential impasse that hinders peninsula denuclearization.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Friday at a news conference in Beijing that:"China believes the (UNSC) resolution should contain the DPRK's nuclear and missile development, and the relevant sanctions should be clearly oriented and targeted."

Huang Youfu, a Korean studies professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, said China is sending the message that sabotaging the wellbeing of the DPRK public will not necessarily prompt Pyongyang to stop its nuclear program or return to peace talks.

"Also, China does not expect its ties with the DPRK to be hijacked by hotspot issues or pressures from third parties, such as the US. The two-way ties cannot go to a dead end because of international sanctions," Huang added.

Washington is still boosting its military deployment on the peninsula and it has tried to pressure China to agree on tougher sanctions.

Yang Xiyu, a senior researcher on the peninsula studies at China Institute of International Studies, said the reinforced US deployment on the peninsula will prompt Pyongyang to react, leading to a vicious circle and escalation.

Such escalation "will do no good to any of the parties concerned", Yang added.