Beijing renews call for Seoul to drop THAAD

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, as Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center, looks on after a press conference following the trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday. The three ministers criticized North Korea’s latest submarine missile test. / EPA-Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

The foreign ministers of South Korea and China failed to narrow their differences over the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea in talks in Tokyo, Wednesday.

However, they agreed to strengthen communication on the issue, according to South Korean officials.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi renewed the country’s opposition toward the deployment, saying South Korea should drop the plan.

“There are a series of problems concerning Seoul-Beijing relations and they are not avoidable,” Wang told reporters after the meeting.

“As you all may know, China brought up issues on THAAD and firmly holds the view against the establishment of THAAD in South Korea.”

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he and Wang “openly exchanged thoughts” on bilateral interests, without giving any details.

This is the second time that Yun and Wang have met since July 8 when South Korea and the United States agreed to set up a THAAD battery on the Korean Peninsula by next year.

Wang exchanged barbs with Yun over THAAD on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Laos, July 24. But Wang warmly greeted North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho in a separate meeting, July 25.

The meeting between Yun and Wang took place on the sidelines of the joint foreign ministerial talks among South Korea, China and Japan, which were held later.

Concerns are growing here that China is adopting a two-faced policy toward the two Koreas in protest of THAAD — taking retaliatory measures against the South on the one hand while loosening sanctions on the North despite its continued provocations.

Such moves fueled speculation that Seoul-Beijing relations will be at risk and disrupt the U.N. Security Council’s (UNSC) sanctions on Pyongyang.

“China does not want problems concerning THAAD to get more serious and affect the friendship as well as collaboration between Beijing and Seoul,” Wang said.

However, he expressed the hope to continue consulting with South Korea to find a “solution” for THAAD, according to officials.

Wang said he does not want North Korea “to heighten tension in the region and make its security complex” when asked about Pyongyang’s testing a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in the East Sea, Wednesday.

He also said it was an important day for both South Korea and China, citing that Wednesday marked the 24th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Concerning President Park Geun-hye, he said China welcomes her scheduled visit to Huangzhou, China on Sept. 4 and 5 for the G20 Summit.

Meanwhile, Yun, Kishida and Wang called North Korea’s launch of an SLBM “an unacceptable provocation,” during a press conference after their joint talks.

“North Korea’s nuclear threats are more serious than ever,” Yun said. “And we reached a consensus that the three countries should cooperate more to resolve challenges in the region and the international community in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.”

In a protest against North Korea, Kishida said, “the three nations confirmed that we’ll lead in taking international action against Pyongyang, including the UNSC resolutions.”

Wang said China opposes any actions and words that escalate tension on the peninsula, such as North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

“China remains firm about denuclearization of the peninsula and that this must be settled through dialogue and consultations.”

The three foreign ministers said they will work closely to prepare for the joint summit among leaders of South Korea, Japan and China in Tokyo this year.

A string of issues, including THAAD, the Beijing-Tokyo row over Senkaku Islands occupied by Japan, have been regarded as obstacles to holding the three-way summit following one held in Seoul last year.

Yun and Kishida met separately as well and discussed about Japan’s promise to provide 1 billion yen ($9.9 million) following an agreement between Seoul and Tokyo last year to settle disputes over former Korean sex slaves.

The Japanese government approved a plan to contribute the 1 billion yen to help victims who were coerced into sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers before and during World War II.