By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
China's foreign minister called for flexibility to restart international talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons, saying a "cool-headed" approach was necessary.
Li Zhaoxing spoke Friday as concerns have mounted on how to bring the reclusive communist nation back to the six-party talks that Pyongyang has boycotted since November. Reports by South Korea's spy agency that the North may be preparing for a nuclear bomb test have added new urgency to the efforts.
Li said in a speech at the UN General Assembly meeting on Friday. "All the parties should be patient and pragmatic and act with vision to remove differences."
"We hope the parties involved will be cool-headed and more flexible," Li said.
Li also said diplomacy and flexibility were crucial in dealing with the other nuclear controversy that has stymied the international community, the one involving Iran.
"Diplomatic negotiation represents the best chance for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue and serves the interest of all parties," said Li.