BEIJING, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Chinese and South Korean officials urged patience Thursday in dealing with North Korea and its nuclear weapons program.
"We can't expect to resolve this in a short period of time," said Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon as he arrived in Beijing. "We should take a long-term perspective, and we will resolve it in a calm manner."
Talks in Beijing are centered on how to persuade North Korea to return to negotiations with five other nations. China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States are trying to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.
Earlier this week, North Korea said it was pulling out of the talks and was working on expanding its nuclear arsenal. The United States is working with the other countries to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said patience was needed to solve the impasse.
"We believe (pressuring North Korea) will not create a resolution but instead raise tensions," he said at a news briefing.
Also Thursday, Christopher Hill, the new U.S. negotiator for the six-party talks, met with Chinese officials on the issue.
