BEIJING, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - China considers military action against North Korea following its nuclear tests to be 'unimaginable', the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
However, Liu Jianchao did not rule out United Nations sanctions against North Korea, which the United States has pushed for in a draft UN Security Council resolution.
"Any measures being taken should be aimed firstly at the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, secondly at peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and thirdly toward the resumption of the six-party talks process," he said.
Nuclear tests in North Korea will inevitably affect China-North Korea relations, the spokesman said.
Liu Jianchao said his country hoped to develop friendly relations and cooperation with North Korea, but wants them to be based on mutual benefit, taking into account the interests of each side.
"We are still convinced that six-party talks are the most reasonable and effective way of settling the problem," he said.
North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States have been engaged in talks on the nuclear issue since 2003, discussing aid and security guarantees for the secretive regime in exchange for a renunciation of its nuclear program.
However, talks stalled last November over Pyongyang's demands that the U.S. lift sanctions imposed on it for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
