Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue would be on the agenda of the first round of China-US strategic and economic dialogue.

China and the United States would discuss the resumption of the six-party talks and the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told a press conference in Beijing.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a nuclear test in May and fired several ballistic missiles on June 4, raising international concerns over regional security.

The UN Security Council adopted on June 12 Resolution 1874 that allowed wider sanctions against the DPRK over its nuclear test.

Rejecting the resolution, the DPRK announced it has quit the cease-fire agreement of the Korean War and the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

"The key of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is denuclearization, and another important aspect is to maintain the peace and stability of the peninsula and northeast Asia," He said. "China and the United States have the same objective on the issue."

He said it was the consistent stance of China to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula, oppose nuclear proliferation and safeguard peace and stability of the peninsula and northeast Asia.

The Korean nuclear issue could only be resolved through peaceful talks, He said, noting that the UN Security Council Resolution 1874 also left room for diplomatic discussions.

He said China was ready to work with parties concerned to create conditions for the early resumption of the six-party talks.

China and the United States will hold their first strategic and economic dialogue from July 27 to 28 in Washington D.C..

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2009)