I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Seoul steps up Cheonan diplomacy
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff reporter
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan praised a multinational investigation team's findings over the sinking of the corvette Cheonan to China Tuesday, calling them "very scientific and objective."
His remarks were construed as a carefully-designed effort to press China to take the South's side over the case.
South Korea plans to bring the sinking of the 1,200-ton vessel near the maritime border in the West Sea in March to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Therefore, it is critical for the South to convince China, one of the permanent UNSC member states, to support the plan.
Before taking the case to the UNSC, Seoul plans to buy time to court China and Russia to vote for the measure.
China, North Korea's closest ally, has not made it clear what its position on the issue is after the multinational investigation team unveiled its findings last week.
During a meeting with Wu Dawei, China's special representative for Korean affairs, the foreign minister called on the North's major ally to have a closer look at the bigger picture.
Yu called on China to consider the two nations' strategic partnership in trade, the far-sighted perspective on inter-Korean relations and the peace and security of East Asia, when dealing with North Korea, in regards to this case.
The Chinese envoy was quoted as saying that China will examine the investigation results in a sincere manner. Wu also expressed a hope that the two sides will work closely together at all levels to resolve the issue.
The Chinese envoy's visit came three days before President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Seoul on Friday.
The Lee-Won meeting will be followed by a three-way summit among Lee, Wen and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Jeju Island from May 29-30.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in Seoul today for talks with her South Korean counterpart after wrapping up the annual two-day security and economic talks in Beijing.
Yu and Clinton will meet for policy coordination over the sunken ship case, ministry sources said.
Earlier, Clinton pressed China to take an unequivocal stance over the issue, citing "overwhelming" evidence that North Korea torpedoed the South Korean ship that killed 46 sailors.