North Korea-China exchanges discussed at bilateral foreign ministers' meeting

Seoul warns against any US-China-Russia talks that could harm its national interests

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Friday (local time). [Yonhap]
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Friday (local time). [Yonhap]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed his South Korean counterpart on recent exchanges between North Korea and China — including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to China — at a bilateral foreign ministers' meeting, sources said. Beijing indicated that its engagement with Pyongyang has been focused on economic cooperation rather than political matters.

A senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official told reporters at the South Korean Embassy in Beijing on Saturday that the Friday meeting had covered Kim's trip to Dandong. "We heard about Chairman Kim Jong-un's visit to Dandong, and we also heard about Kim Song-nam, the Workers' Party's secretary for international affairs," the official said.

The official said China had described its relationship with North Korea as focused "particularly on economic cooperation rather than political affairs," adding that Seoul had received "a relatively detailed briefing."

Wang had accompanied Kim during the North Korean leader's visit to Dandong on Oct. 24, and met with Workers' Party International Affairs Secretary Kim Song-nam when the latter visited China on Nov. 5.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Wang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Friday (local time) to discuss bilateral relations and Korean Peninsula issues.

Cho told reporters that day the two sides had held in-depth discussions on Korean Peninsula affairs, encompassing the ongoing North Korea-China exchanges, the growing prospect of US-China-Russia meetings on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and the possibility of a North Korea-US summit.

However, the senior ministry official assessed the likelihood of a North Korea-US summit as possible but not particularly high, citing US President Donald Trump's willingness and North Korea's receptiveness as the key variables.

Seoul also conveyed its position that any US-China-Russia leaders' meeting must not produce outcomes that run counter to South Korea's national interests on the Korean Peninsula. "We made clear to China, as well as to the United States, that a US-China-Russia meeting must not become a second Yalta Conference," the official said.

The official added that China had indicated it understood Seoul's position that North Korea must not be recognized as a nuclear state and that no decisions should be made that would undermine efforts to build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on anti-China sentiment in South Korea and disputes over structures in the West Sea. They agreed to prepare measures to improve bilateral relations in ways that citizens of both countries could tangibly feel, ahead of the 35th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic normalization next year.


hajun825@heraldcorp.com