China won’t allow war on Korean peninsula: Xi

BEIJING: China will not allow chaos and war to break out on the Korean peninsula, which would be to no one's advantage, Chinese President Xi Jinping (pix) told a group of Asian foreign ministers, as North Korea today tried and failed to test a powerful, new medium-range ballistic missile, according to South Korea's defence ministry.
North Korea's drive to develop a nuclear weapons capability, in defiance of UN resolutions, has angered China and raised tension in the region.
"As a close neighbour of the peninsula, we will absolutely not permit war or chaos on the peninsula. This situation would not benefit anyone," Xi said in a speech to a Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.
North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed that with tests of various missiles that could deliver such a weapon.
An official for South Korea's defence ministry said the North had fired what was believed to be a Musudan missile at around 6.40am (5.40am Malaysia) from Wonsan on the east coast, but it plunged back to earth seconds after launch.
"It is believed to have failed," the official told AFP.
There had been widespread intelligence reports in recent days that the North was preparing for another flight test of a Musudan, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam.
North Korea initially launched a Musudan on April 15 – the birthday of founding leader Kim Il-Sung – but the exercise ended in what the Pentagon described as "fiery, catastrophic" failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off.
The isolated state is expected to conduct another nuclear test before a rare congress of its ruling party, beginning on May 6, at which young leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to try to cement his leadership.
China is North Korea's sole major ally but it disapproves of its development of nuclear weapons and backed harsh new UN sanctions imposed last month.
China has long called for the Korean peninsula to be free of nuclear weapons.
Nearly 30,000 US troops are based in South Korea and the two Koreas are still technically at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a treaty.
Xi also told the meeting China would safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, while at the same time maintaining its sovereignty and rights there. – Reuters/AFP