Defense chief to ask China to tame NK

By Lee Tae-hoon

Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin will urge China to use its singular influence over its Cold War ally North Korea to ensure security in Northeast Asia during his trip to Beijing this week, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

Kim will visit China from Thursday through Saturday for talks with his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie on regional security and defense cooperation.

“Minister Kim will likely ask China to play a more active role in regional security and use its strong relationship with the North to prevent further provocations by Pyongyang,” the official said asking for anonymity.

Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said Kim and Liang will issue a joint press statement following their talks, the first of its kind since Seoul and Beijing forged diplomatic relations in 1992.

“The joint statement will underline the common understanding of the two countries on regional security issues and their willingness to implement their agreement,” he said. “The statement, in one form or another, will include words on keeping North Korean provocations in check.”

The spokesman said Minister Kim will also seek to increase personnel exchanges and hold high-level strategic talks between Korea and China.

He added that Kim is also scheduled to meet with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the two defense leaders agreed to discuss the North Korean situation without mentioning details.

“The two ministers will exchange their views on regional security, including North Korean issues, and will discuss ways to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation,” the ministry said in a statement.

The forthcoming trip will mark the eighth defense ministerial talks between the two countries and Kim’s first visit to China since the North carried out two deadly provocations on the South last year, killing 50.

Beijing has yet to condemn Pyongyang of the attacks or urge it to stop further provocations.

The North torpedoed the warship Cheonan in March last year and launched a surprise artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea in November.

On Sunday, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, also urged China to use its influence on Pyongyang to dissuade it from engaging in further provocations and developing nuclear arsenals.

"Chinese leaders have a strong relationship with their counterparts in Pyongyang and they exercise that routinely... continuing to do that as they have done in the past is really important," Mullen said.

He pointed out that “North Korea and the leadership of North Korea is only predictable in one sense and that is ― if you base it historically ― they will continue to provoke.”