China firmly opposes DPRK's nuclear test, calls for resumption of talks

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2016 shows the United Nations Security Council voting on resolution in response to Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) fifth nuclear test, at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States. UN Security Council adopted resolution in response to DPRK's fifth nuclear test. [Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS - China on Wednesday voiced its firm opposition to the Sept. 9 nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and called for an early resumption of the six-party talks to solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through political and peaceful means.

Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks as he was taking the floor at the UN Security Council after the 15-nation UN body unanimously adopted a resolution to tighten sanction against the DPRK in response to its nuclear test in September, the country's fifth nuclear test since 2006.

"On Sept. 9 this year, the DPRK conducted yet another nuclear test in defiance of the new universal objection of the international community," Liu said. "The Chinese government firmly opposes such an act."

The resolution sets an upper limit on the DPRK's coal exporting, saying the total exports of coal from the DPRK should not exceed 400.9 million U.S. dollars or 7.5 million metric tons per year, whichever is lower.

However, the resolution said that the provision shall not apply with respect to transactions in iron and iron ore that are determined to be exclusively for livelihood purposes and unrelated to generating revenue for the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.