China warns US, South Korea against 'provoking confrontation' with North Korea

Hours after US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol asserted it would be the end of any North Korean regime if it used nuclear weapons against the allies, China has issued a response. Beijing warnednot to 'provoke confrontation' with North Korea while calling for the parties to play a constructive role.

"All parties should face up to the crux of the (Korean) peninsula issue and play a constructive role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the issue," saidforeign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

Targetting the US for attempting to drive upfriction between parties, Ning added,"What the US is doing ... provokes confrontation between camps, undermines the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the strategic interests of other countries."

She suggested that USA's moves "aggravate tensions on the peninsula, undermine regional peace and stability, and run counter to the goal of denuclearisation on the peninsula."

What did the US say?

On his six-day state visit to the US, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met Biden on Wednesday at the White House. During a joint presser after the meeting, Biden saidKim Jong Un's regime would cease to exist if he were to launch a nuclear attack on the United States or its allies.

"A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partners is unacceptable and will result at the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," he said.

Meanwhile,Yoon saidpeace with North Korea would come through strength and vowed that any response to a nuclear attack would include US atomic weapons.

"Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically," he added.

Washington declaration on nuclear weapons

The statement came on the same day as the two sides signed the Washington Declaration under whichSouth Korea will not develop its own nuclear weapons but the US will aid in the use of them in any potential conflict with North Korea.

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As part of the agreement, the US will also deploy nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea. Additionally, there will be a routine visit of aircraft carriers and bombers to the region to send a message to the enemy, informed officials.

(With inputs from agencies)

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