China moves toward closer ties with NK

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho ahead of their talks in Vientiane, Laos, Monday. Wang strongly protested the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea during his talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se a day earlier; and vowed to boost relations with North Korea at the meeting with Ri. / Yonhap

Seoul, Beijing trade barbs over THAAD

By Yi Whan-woo

Top diplomats of South Korea and China exchanged barbs over the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea in bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Laos, officials here said Monday.

During the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi renewed Beijing's strong opposition toward the U.S. setting up a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea.

In contrast, Wang, during his meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, Monday, promised to work together for the sake of advancing China-North Korea relations.

Wang and Ri thanked each other's government for sending celebratory message on July 11 to mark the 55th anniversary of a bilateral friendship treaty, according to diplomatic sources.

"We intend to work together to develop ties between China and North Korea," Wang said in his opening remarks at the meeting with Ri, which was unusually disclosed to South Korean reporters.

On Sunday, during a meeting with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Wang said Seoul "has undermined the foundations of trust between the two countries."

The meeting came amid growing concerns that China may loosen its commitment to sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) on North Korea to protest the planned deployment.

Pyongyang is also expected to take advantage of a new Cold War rivalry stemming from the THAAD issue.

Wang met as they both arrived in Laos on the same flight. They are staying at the same hotel.

The ARF involves all members of the six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions. They are the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.

Yun defends Seoul's THAAD claim

During the meeting with Yun, Wang said he finds the decision on THAAD "regretful."

"I want to hear what substantial measures South Korea will take to protect bilateral relations with China," he said.

Yun reiterated the South Korean government's position that THAAD is not targeting a third country.

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He also said it only aims to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile attacks. China has argued THAAD's long-range radar can be used to detect its military activities.

"The decision concerning THAAD was made as a self-defense measure to ensure national security and protect people's lives, and it's something that a responsible government must do," Yun was quoted as saying by an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The foreign minister also explained why THAAD would not damage China's national security interests in a detailed and confident manner," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Several South Korean analysts speculated earlier that that Seoul-Beijing relations in the future will depend on whether the government could have scheduled a meeting with Wang at the ARF, an annual security meeting among over 20 countries.

Wang said Yun first proposed to meet on the opening day of the three-day forum.

Although the two countries initially considered a closed-door meeting, Beijing changed the plan a5t the last minute and asked for media coverage.

Some diplomatic sources predicted that it was intended to explicitly show China's discontent and anger toward South Korea.

They cited that Wang made several gestures throughout the meeting, such as resting his chin on his and also waving at Yun.

Meanwhile, Wang still referred to South Korea and China as "friends," and that their ties "have not turned sour."

"The number of people involved in bilateral exchange programs has reached 10 million. Bilateral cooperation is significant for citizens of both countries and it will continue to carry such significance," he said.

Yun said THAAD-related issues should not affect Seoul-Beijing relations although he added that the two neighbors may face a series of challenges in their cooperative efforts.

NK nuclear sanctions

Regarding the UNSC's latest sanctions ― Resolution 2270 ― on North Korea, China "reaffirmed the principle of denuclearization of the peninsula and promised to carry out the UNSC sanctions strictly," a South Korean foreign ministry official said. "The meeting was meaningful in that the two foreign ministers could communicate even after the decision on THAAD was made."

Some analysts, however, speculated that bilateral relations are at risk. They said THAAD remains as a "variable" and China will take retaliatory measures if South Korea continues to push for its deployment.

Skeptics said Wang was calling for scrapping the deployment when he asked Yun to take "substantial measures."

They also said it remains to be seen whether China will keep its promise to implement UNSC Resolution 2270.

An expert said it will be important for China to sign a possible joint communiqué denouncing North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons at the ARF.

On Monday, Yun held a one-on-one meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.