South Korea calls on China to support dialogue with North Korea

The South Korean foreign ministry said that foreign minister Park Jin told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to support Seoul’s efforts for dialogue with North Korea. This follows a similar appeal by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for China to use its influence to convince North Korea against further developing its nuclear program.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said Monday that Park spoke with Wang via video call. Park told Wang that South Korea is expecting China’s support for its efforts to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang. The ministry added that Wang assured Park that China would play a constructive role in the tensions in the Korean peninsula.

Park raised concerns about North Korea’s actions this year, including a record number of missile and weapons tests. Park said that North Korea must refrain from making further provocative actions and engage in dialogue.

Back in November, Yoon called on China to also talk North Korea out of further developing its nuclear program amidst fears that Pyongyang is gearing up for its first nuclear weapon test in five years.

At the time, Yoon said that China must uphold its responsibilities as one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Yoon said that not doing so would lead to more military assets in the region.

So far, North Korea has refused to engage in dialogue with Seoul and the United States, saying that the two nations are still pursuing hostile policies by holding joint military drills along with Japan.

South Korea’s envoy to North Korea, Kim Gunn, said Tuesday that Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington would be coordinating on sanctions and close loopholes in the international sanctions regime against Pyongyang.

In a meeting with his counterparts from Japan and the US in Jakarta, Kim said that North Korea was becoming increasingly “aggressive and blatant in its nuclear threat.”

“North Korea’s further provocation will be met by a firm and united response from the international community,” said Kim, adding that China had the capability to influence North Korea and also hoped that Beijing would “continue to play a constructive role.”

The US envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said that North Korea’s behavior posed a serious security challenge to the region and to the world.