PARIS, May 16 (KUNA) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian hosted Chinese State Affairs Counsellor and Foreign Minister Wang YI late Wednesday to discuss the international situation, particularly the North Korean issue. The meeting at the Quai d'Orsay came after Le Drian participated in an important gathering in Brussels of German and British Foreign Ministers, who met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif to discuss the future of the 2015 nuclear deal.
China was also a signatory of that deal which the US is now withdrawing from, and Beijing has indicated it wants to continue with the implementation of the nuclear accord, as do France, Germany, Britain and Russia.
On North Korea, Le Drian urged "sincerity" from the North Korean side in its negotiations with the US, "France Info" radio reported. The North Korean and US leaders are supposed to meet in a summit in Singapore on June 12, but on Tuesday North Korea threatened to cancel that meeting because of military manoeuvres by the US and South Korea.
There is still uncertainty and concern as to whether the summit talks will go ahead as planned.
Le Drian said that the parties "must not lose sight of the goal" of full denuclearisation of North Korea in a verifiable and irreversible way.
China is North Korea's staunchest backer but supports efforts to curb the nuclear ambitions and potential of its southern neighbour. (end) jk.gb