The Korea Herald

소아쌤

Korea, China vice FMs to meet in Seoul

By KH디지털2

Published : Feb. 15, 2016 - 09:29

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Vice foreign ministers of South Korea and China will meet in Seoul this week to discuss pending issues between the two countries, the South Korean foreign ministry said Monday.

Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam will meet his Chinese counterpart, Zhang Yesui, in the 7th Strategic Dialogue between vice foreign ministers of the two countries Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The meeting comes amid a deepening chasm between the two neighbors over how to deal with North Korea's latest nuclear weapon and long-range missile tests.

Zhang is the first senior Chinese official to visit South Korea since the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test.

It will provide an opportunity for the two sides to have rare high-level face-to-face consultations on such sensitive issues as Washington's move to deploy the THAAD missile defense system on the peninsula and a rift over the level of punishment against Pyongyang.

"The two sides will hold in-depth talks on issues of mutual interest, including relations between South Korea and China, political situations on the Korean Peninsula and regional and international affairs," the ministry said.

They, in particular, will "intensively discuss responses to North Korea's nuclear test and long-range missile launch," it said.

Lim and Zhang are expected to exchange opinions on the intensity and direction of future international sanctions, including a new U.N. Security Council resolution, against Pyongyang for its latest nuclear test and long-range rocket launch, and seek to reach a consensus on the issue.

Beijing has shown a lukewarm stance on the South Korea and U.S. moves to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea, maintaining that the nuclear issue should be resolved through "dialogue and negotiations."

Seoul and Washington's recent decision to begin negotiations for the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system is also expected to be a hot issue during the talks.

China has vehemently opposed any deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on the Korean Peninsula, taking it as part of the U.S. Missile Defense system.

The strategic dialogue is a "chance for comprehensive consultations on the Korean Peninsula issue and regional security conditions," a ministry official said. "It's not for a specific pending issue."

The Chinese diplomat is scheduled to fly into South Korea later Monday for the talks.

South Korea and China launched the strategic dialogue in December 2008. They have since held follow-up sessions in Seoul and Beijing on an irregular basis.

President Park Geun-hye had phone talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Feb. 5, followed by discussions between Foreign Minister Yung Byung-se and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, over the phone a week later.

Speaking to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry about the THAAD issue in Munich last week, Wang urged the U.S. to "act cautiously" without harming China's security interests, according to his ministry. (Yonhap)