Asia

China Calls On U.S. To Take 'Concrete Steps' With North Korea

China said North Korea has legitimate concerns that haven't "been taken seriously or addressed."

China Calls On U.S. To Take 'Concrete Steps' With North Korea
Getty Images
SMS

China is calling on the U.S. to take "concrete steps" to work out a denuclearization plan with North Korea.

In a year-end interview with Chinese state media, China's foreign minister pushed the U.S. and North Korea to "work out a feasible roadmap" to what the countries agreed upon at the historic summit in Singapore last year. 

That summit concluded with U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un making a vague agreement: Kim "reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization," and President Trump agreed to "provide security guarantees" to North Korea.

But negotiations broke down in February when Trump and Kim were unable to reach a deal over U.S. sanctions relief. Pyongyang has since restarted ballistic missile tests. After talks failed again in October, the North set an end-of-the-year deadline for the U.S. to prepare a better offer.

China's foreign minister promised to "continue to play a constructive role" to establish peace in the Korean Peninsula.