S. Korea-China Senior Nuclear Talks: "Close Cooperation for Stability of Korean Peninsula Including North Korean Nuclear Issue" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] South Korea and China's chief nuclear envoys on the Korean Peninsula held talks on the 3rd regarding stable management measures for the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula, following North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch and indications of a possible nuclear preemptive strike.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day, Noh Kyu-duk, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Peace Negotiations on the Korean Peninsula, and Liu Xiaoming, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, held a South Korea-China chief nuclear envoy meeting at 10 a.m. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Seoul. This was Liu's first visit to South Korea since his appointment in April last year, and also his first face-to-face consultation with Director General Noh.

Director General Noh expressed concerns about North Korea's recent series of missile launches and the restoration of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, urging China to play a constructive role in restraining North Korea from further aggravating the situation and encouraging its return to dialogue.

Representative Liu expressed agreement on the necessity of close cooperation among relevant countries for stability in the Korean Peninsula and the regional situation, reaffirming China's position to play a constructive role in the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Both sides agreed to continue close strategic communication regarding the Korean Peninsula issue.

After the talks, Representative Liu told reporters, “We judge that there is a new change in the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” adding, “We must continue our joint efforts.”

The “new change” appears to refer to the worsening situation due to North Korea's successive provocations.

Representative Liu said, “(Director General Noh and I) reached much consensus,” and “We agreed to jointly promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and strive for stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

He continued, “This issue is still undergoing a political process of joint efforts,” emphasizing, “We still believe it is on the track of political resolution.”

Following the consultation with Director General Noh, Representative Liu met with Choi Jong-geun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in the afternoon, he had meetings with Choi Young-jun, Vice Minister of Unification, and paid a courtesy visit to Minister Lee In-young.

On the 4th, he is scheduled to meet with Choi Jong-geun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and is also expected to meet with Kim Tae-hyo, a professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Sungkyunkwan University, who has been nominated as the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office in the new government during his visit to South Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.