Top nuclear envoy leaves for Beijing for talks on Pyongyang
By Chung Min-uck
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Wu Dawei
Tensions have run high on the peninsula since North Korea’s Feb. 12 nuclear test, which was answered by new United Nations sanctions.The move comes a day after South Korea and the United States ended their two-month-long joint military exercises. Many analysts expect their completion will be a turning point in the current stalemate between the two Koreas.On a two-day visit, Lim will meet his counterpart Wu Dawei and other Chinese officials, the ministry said.Lim Sung-nam, the nation’s top nuclear envoy, left for Beijing, Wednesday, for talks on a range of issues related to North Korea, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In response to these, Pyongyang launched an all out barrage of warlike rhetoric and suspended operations at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex by pulling out all of its workers.
Among others, Lim is to explain Seoul’s position regarding its latest decision to withdraw its nationals from the industrial park following Pyongyang’s rejection of talks.
Currently, seven South Koreans have remained in the city to settle the North’s claims of overdue wages and corporate tax.
Wu, the Chinese special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs, met his U.S. counterpart Glyn Davies in Washington last month and discussed ways to tackle the current crisis on the peninsula.
It is reported that China is trying to engage with Pyongyang by offering to send Wu as a special envoy.
If Pyongyang confirms the visit, China’s top nuclear envoy is expected to deliver messages from Seoul and Washington including a call for the resumption of bilateral and six-party talks, during his stay.
Seoul is sticking to its stance that while the North is responsible for halting the operations at the Gaeseong complex, it is open to holding talks with Pyongyang if it meets all obligations as outlined in regulations governing the operation of the complex.
Washington, while acknowledging Pyongyang for backing off from issuing its daily bellicose rhetoric, insists that it is “waiting for clear signals that the communist nation is serious about dialogue,” the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.