South Korean President Moon Jae-in paid a working visit to Beijing on Monday. During the lunch, both national leaders agreed to cooperate to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Asia Nikkei reports.
North Korea threatens provocations ahead of its self-imposed year-end deadline for sanctions relief, and the Asian neighbours, China, South Korea and Japan, are doing their best to ease the tensions and to promote multilateralism and free trade.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in scheduled to travel to the southern Chinese city of Chengdu later Monday for a trilateral summit, which kicks off on Tuesday. Moon with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe planned to meet for discussion on the latest regional developments.
“It is never good for North Korea, as well as for other countries, that the North-U.S. talks stop and tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula,” Moon said and expressed his hope on the future cooperation more closely.
China and South Korea are the countries, which should pursue peace and prosperity in the region, the Chinese leader said.
The Asian leaders meeting comes one day after North Korea’s state-run media reported that Kim Jong Un hosted a high-level military meeting. Pyongyang has set a year-end deadline for the White House to come up with an offer to ease sanctions, warning that it will send a “Christmas gift” to US capital if it does not.
According to President Moon, South Korea is China’s friend and partner in the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the years, South Korea’s policies aimed at strengthening Seoul’s ties with Southeast and Central Asian countries.
