An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council initiated by Russia helped to prevent a military conflict between South and North Korea, China's deputy envoy to the UN, Wang Min, said on Monday.
"Yesterday China supported Russia's proposal to call for an urgent meeting of the [UN] Security Council on the situation on the Korean peninsula," Wang said. "Members of the council, including China, the United States and Russia have made efforts to the extent possible to avoid armed conflict on the peninsula."
At the closed-door emergency meeting on Sunday, participants discussed a Russian draft statement calling on both North and South Korea to refrain from the escalation of conflict.
A jarring of opinion between the United States and China prevented the adaptation of a coordinated statement. The United States insisted on a clear condemnation of the reclusive communist regime, whereas China was against blaming Pyongyang.
South Korean military conducted 90-minute live-firing exercises on Yeonpyeong Island near the disputed border with North Korea earlier on Monday. The drills went ahead despite threats of retaliation from Pyongyang, a month after the North Korean military shelled the island, killing four people.
The North does not recognize the sea border between the two countries, known as the Northern Limit Line, and claims the waters around Yeonpyeong are its territory.
UN, December 20 (RIA Novosti)
