Seoul, Tokyo condemn NK threats while Beijing urges restraint

President Yoon Suk Yeol applauds after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, ended his speech during a press conference after a trilateral summit involving Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Yeongbingwan guesthouse in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued warnings against North Korea’s plan to launch a satellite which they view as a violation of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, during a trilateral summit involving China, Monday.

In contrast, Chinese Premier Li Qiang refrained from echoing their concerns and instead urged "related parties to exercise restraint."

Their divergence on how to address Pyongyang's escalating threats extended to a joint declaration, which emphasized the dedication of the three countries to regional peace and prosperity, but notably omitted any specific mention of North Korean issues.

They instead promised to expand their economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attend a trilateral summit at Yeongbingwan guesthouse in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of presidential office

“We agreed that the three countries’ active cooperation contributes to bilateral relations as well as regional peace and prosperity,” Yoon said during a press conference after the trilateral summit at Yeongbingwan guesthouse in Seoul.

“To ensure regional peace and stability, which is a shared interest of the three countries, we should faithfully implement UNSC resolutions and strive for North Korea's denuclearization, under the ultimate goal of a free and peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Moreover, North Korea's announcement of a so-called satellite launch is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and must be met with a resolute response from the international community.”

The trilateral meeting, held for the first time in four years and five months, was perceived as a litmus test to assess whether the Northeast Asian neighbors could normalize and revive their cooperative framework amid the escalating rivalry between the United States and China. Ultimately, the goal was to collaborate in containing North Korea's nuclear threats.

Testing the resolve of these efforts, North Korea notified Japan’s coast guard on Monday of its intention to launch a satellite rocket between Monday and June 4 in the waters spanning from the West Sea to the east of the Philippine island of Luzon.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan and China at Yeongbingwan guesthouse in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps

Yoon denounced the planned launch during his opening remarks of the summit, saying "Any launch (by North Korea) using ballistic missile technology is a direct violation of UNSC resolutions and undermines regional and global peace and stability."

Kishida also emphasized, "I strongly demand that North Korea cease its activities," and expressed his desire for the trilateral summit to serve as an opportunity to engage in discussions on international affairs, including the situation regarding North Korea.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to pursue cooperation in a wide range of fields, recognizing the significant responsibility our three countries share in promoting regional peace and prosperity," Kishida said during the press conference. "And we also reaffirmed that North Korea’s denuclearization and the stability of the Korean Peninsula are the common interests of the three countries."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan and China at Yeongbingwan guesthouse in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of South Korean presidential office

Even though the Chinese premier agreed that the three countries should collaborate for their common long-term interests and deepen their political trust, he showed a different approach toward the issue of North Korea.

“China has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promoting the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue,” Li said. “I believe relevant parties should exercise restraint and prevent a further complication of the situation.” He did not specify which party he was referring to.

During his opening remarks, Li also called for the three countries’ joint efforts to enhance cooperation through "mutual respect and trust," a stance maintained by the Chinese government on the issue.

“We should resolve suspicions and misunderstandings through candid dialogue, safeguard bilateral relations with a spirit of strategic autonomy, promote a multipolar world, and oppose bloc confrontation and factionalism,” Li said, in an apparent reference to the inclination toward the U.S. by Seoul and Tokyo.

In line with the leaders’ remarks, the joint declaration did not include any articles or clauses related to North Korea.

Amid lingering concerns over China's unwillingness to address North Korean issues despite the three-way summit, the presidential office released a press statement indicating Yoon and Li had a post-summit conversation on the matter.

"Yoon asked China to play a constructive role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council regarding North Korea's nuclear issue and the North Korean defector matter," presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung said.

"In response, Li said China has been making efforts to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue peacefully, acknowledging South Korea's concerns and assuring that he will continue to engage in future communications."

Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks during a trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan and China at Yeongbingwan guesthouse in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of South Korean presidential office

In areas other than North Korea's belligerence, the three nations reached agreements in several areas, including people-to-people exchanges; sustainable development through joint responses to climate change; economic and trade partnerships; health and aging population initiatives; partnerships in science, technology and digital formation; and cooperation in disaster and safety management.

To achieve this goal, the leaders have agreed to convene the trilateral summit regularly, ensuring that around 70 inter-governmental consulting bodies between the three countries operate smoothly without encountering obstacles.

Also, they promised that they "will continue discussions to speed up negotiations for a Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aiming to realize a free, fair, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial FTA with its own value."

"The foundation of trilateral cooperation lies in mutual understanding and trust among the people of our three countries," Yoon said. "To achieve this, frequent meetings and communication are essential. We have decided to make efforts to achieve an annual exchange of 40 million people by 2030, especially promoting exchanges among future generations."