Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
'North Korea issue should be solved via talks'
Noh Kyu-duk, right, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Liu Xiaoming ahead of their talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
By Kang Seung-woo
China's top nuclear envoy reiterated the country's stance, Tuesday, that issues regarding the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's nuclear program, should be resolved through diplomatic engagement by relevant parties.
Liu Xiaoming, China's special representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs who visited Seoul, Sunday, made the remark following a closed-door meeting with his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk.
“I believe that the issues linked to the peninsula are still on the track of political settlement,” he told reporters.
“We figure that there is a new change in terms of the situation on the peninsula. Under the circumstances, all relevant parties should make efforts, which will eventually provide more opportunities to ease tensions.”
With regard to the meeting, the Chinese envoy said they mainly discussed the situation on the peninsula, during which the two sides shared some views.
“We agreed to make efforts in pursuing the denuclearization of the peninsula and achieve its stabilization,” he said. “We need to continue joint efforts.”
His remarks come as the Chinese government has urged all relevant parties to take responsibility for North Korea's series of provocative actions. So far this year, the Kim Jong-un regime has conducted 13 rounds of missile launches, including a launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Plus, there are signs of preparations for a new nuclear test.
In response to North Korea's saber-rattling, the United States has called for the international community to impose additional sanctions on Pyongyang, but to no avail due to opposition from China and Russia. The North is already banned from making any launch using ballistic missile technology under U.N. Security Council resolutions.
In fact, Liu said all parties should stay cool-headed and exercise restraint upon his arrival in Seoul.
“I stressed that China's position is consistent and clear. China is concerned about the tense situation on the peninsula. We call on all parties to stay cool-headed and exercise restraint, and we disapprove actions by any party that could escalate tension,” the Chinese envoy said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said Noh and Liu discussed ways to stably manage the situation on the peninsula.
“Noh expressed concerns over recent North Korean military moves, while asking the Chinese government to play a constructive role in bringing North Korea back to dialogue,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The ministry confirmed that China will play a role in addressing issues on the peninsula in a peaceful way.”
While staying here until Saturday, the Chinese envoy plans to meet with senior security officials of the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Liu also said, Sunday, that he will discuss peninsula issues with officials in both the sitting and incoming governments to enhance bilateral communication and cooperation on this matter.
According to sources, the senior officials of the Yoon administration will include Kim Tae-hyo, named as Yoon's deputy national security adviser.