On February 26, during a routine press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed questions regarding recent statements by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to Jin10, Kim indicated that North Korea would be open to friendly relations with the United States if it recognized North Korea as a nuclear state and withdrew its hostile policies. However, he dismissed South Korea's recent conciliatory gestures as deceptive and expressed no interest in dialogue.
In response, Mao Ning emphasized China's position as a close neighbor to the Korean Peninsula, expressing concern over the evolving situation. She highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and advancing the political resolution of related issues, which aligns with the interests of all parties involved. Mao called for collective efforts to achieve these goals.