Beijing on Tuesday expressed its firm commitment to the resumption of Six-Party Talks as key nations were watching Pyongyang as a probe into the sinking of a Republic of Korea warship continues.
"All of the nations involved need to demonstrate flexibility and sincerity to make headway in the Six-Party Talks, no matter how the situation (on the Korean Peninsula) changes," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Tuesday, urging the relevant parties to work together for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
Washington on Monday made it clear that the outcome of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan in March will influence how it deals with Pyongyang.
US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg reiterated that any resumption of six-nation talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program would have to wait for the outcome of the probe, a similar view held by the Republic of Korea.
Speaking at the Brookings Institution, Steinberg said the US was "engaged in an intensive discussion" with all key players about how to proceed over the sinking.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell made a quick stopover in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese officials following a trip to Myanmar.
It is believed the senior US envoy could be in the Chinese capital for a briefing on the unofficial visit of Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-il to Beijing last week.
Kim said that he remained committed to nuclear disarmament and agreed to a resumption of long-stalled nuclear talks, though no timetable was given.
Forty-six people died when the 1,200-ton Cheonan was split into two near the sea border with the DPRK.
Evidence so far indicates a torpedo hit the Cheonan and suspicion is growing it was launched from a small DPRK submarine
ROK defense minister Kim Tae-young confirmed on Monday that a government investigator found evidence of the powerful explosive RDX in parts of the recovered wreckage of the Cheonan.
But he asked that people be patient and wait for an upcoming report on the fatal incident which is likely to be released as early as May 20.
(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)
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Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.