What has happened in the Peninsula in recent years shows the cycle of provocation and tit-for-tat retaliations have only deepened the acrimony and diminished the possibility of resolving the DPRK nuclear issue in peace. At present, the best way to maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula is to exercise restraint and restart the diplomatic process that aims to denuclearize the Peninsula through peaceful negotiations.

China and the US, which both have a stake in the peninsula's peace and stability, should step up cooperation in this regard.

The signing of the landmark agreement between Iran and world powers in June last year should have set a good example for China-US cooperation.

Unfortunately, in the Asia-Pacific region it is a different story. Due to the US "pivot to Asia" strategy, the sole superpower has resorted to provocation and confrontation to contain China.

Both Beijing and Washington should shore up greater political will to cooperate in the Asia Pacific region so as to dispel the concerns that their feuds over the South China Sea may someday lead to a head-on confrontation.

As two important players in the region, China and the US should together send a message to the outside world that they can cooperate on the Korean Peninsula just like they cooperated on the Iranian nuclear issue.

Their shared experience in defusing the Iranian nuclear crisis, which was firmly grounded in flexibility and continuous diplomatic efforts, should also be applied to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue.

China has always insisted on an early resumption of the long-stalled Six-Party Talks－which involve the ROK, the DPRK, China, the US, Japan and Russia－as the most promising way out of the decade old security impasse on the Peninsula.

So it is good to learn that the ROK and Chinese representatives will meet on Thursday in Beijing after the ROK, the US and Japan hold a meeting in Seoul on the nuclear test on Wednesday. The related parties should continue to build on this positive momentum until the Six-Party Talks can be revived at the earliest possible date.

The author is a senior writer with China Daily. [email protected]