Chinese premier holds welcome ceremony for DPRK cabinet premier

Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to welcome the official visit of Pak Thae Song, premier of Cabinet of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Saturday morning.

The military band played the national anthems of the DPRK and China.

Accompanied by Li, Pak reviewed the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The United Nations on Friday called on the United States and Iran to continue diplomatic efforts and ease current tensions, as Iran warned that it would no longer be bound by the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) if the U.S. continues to violate its obligations.

Speaking at a regular press briefing at the UN headquarters, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stressed the importance of continuing diplomacy and voiced hope that the two sides will move negotiations forward to promote a comprehensive political solution at an early date.

"The most important thing is for the diplomacy to continue. We have seen over the last 24 hours a sort of lull in the kinetic activity. We see reports that the discussions are ongoing and we hope that they are," he said.

Tammy Bruce, U.S. deputy representative to the UN, told an emergency Security Council session on Friday that the United States favors a diplomatic settlement to the Iran conflict and hopes Tehran will engage seriously in negotiations to secure a final agreement.

According to Bruce, Iran's actions over the past week had contravened the MoU previously reached between the two sides, adding that the U.S. is ready to hold Iran accountable for such actions.

Later that day, Iran's permanent representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, told a press conference that the United States' attacks on facilities in southern Iranian cities and on several Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf on July 7 and 8 constitute a violation of the UN Charter and the MoU reached between the two sides.

Iravani said that according to the MoU, the United States pledged to cease all military operations against Iran and to refrain from threatening or using force.

He said the restoration of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and related mine clearance work should be undertaken by Iran, adding that any intervention or establishment of parallel arrangements by external forces could undermine the implementation of the MoU and heighten regional tensions.

"Iran remained committed to the faithful implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), provided that the United States fully and faithfully complies with its own obligation. However, should the United States continue to violate its obligation under the MoU, Iran will no longer be bound to fulfill its obligation under the MoU," said Iravani.