China, Russia voice concern over deployment of missile defense system in ROK

China and Russia on Friday voiced "serious concern" over reports that the United States planned to deploy a missile defense system in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"Relevant countries should respect the stance and legitimate concerns of China and Russia," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a joint press briefing with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov after their talks in Beijing.

The ROK and the United States have been discussing the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD) in the ROK.

Wang said both China and Russia thought the plan far exceeded the ROK's actual defense needs, and would directly threaten the strategic security of the two countries.

The deployment will not help the current Korean nuclear issue, in fact, Wang said, it will only intensify the already tense situation.

He said China and Russia shared common interests and concerns on the Korean Peninsula issue.

It is in the common interests of all parties to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula, protect peace and stability, and solve all legitimate concern through dialogue and negotiation, he said, adding that this was in line with the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2270.

Wang noted that the situation on the Korean Peninsula was highly dangerous. All parties should fully implement Resolution 2270, to rein in the nuclear missile development plan of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), while remaining restrained and avoiding any action that may escalate the situation.

Resolution 2270, approved by the UN Security Council unanimously on March 2, following DPRK's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and the long-range rocket launch a month later, is the toughest-ever set of sanctions against the DPRK.

Wang also called on all parties to strive to resume the six-party talks, a multilateral mechanism that aims to solve the Korean nuclear issue, which has been stalled since late 2008.

Lavrov is in Beijing for the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and for an official visit.

Source: XINHUA