ID :
192829
Mon, 07/04/2011 - 16:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/192829
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean politician stresses China's role in N.K. nuclear crisis
(2nd LD)BEIJING, July 4 (Yonhap) -- A top South Korean politician said Monday that China's role in dissuading North Korea from carrying out further provocations is crucial, and urged close cooperations in resolving the North's nuclear ambition.
"South Korea and China need to work together in persuading North Korea to not carry out provocations which undermine security on the peninsula," Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP), was quoted by party officials as saying in a meeting with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is earmarked to become China's next president.
Sohn is visiting China to meet political leaders for discussions on regional security, including North Korea, and ways to promote bilateral economic ties.
"Peace on the peninsula is essential for peace and prosperity in the Northeast Asian region," Sohn said.
China is North Korea's last remaining major ally and has propped up its impoverished, provocative neighbor with food and energy assistance and diplomatic support. Beijing is also the host of six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programs.
The six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis have been stalled since April 2009 when North Korea quit, angered by a fresh round of U.N. sanctions. The North conducted its second nuclear test a month later.
During the meeting with Sohn, Xi said China has been seeking denuclearization on the peninsula, adding that tensions on the peninsula should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations, according to party officials.
"China has been persuading concerned nations to work for the resumption of the six-party talks, and will continue to do so," Xi was quoted as saying.
South Korea, the United States and other regional powers are pushing to reopen the six-party talks in a three-step approach in which North Korea will meet South Korea first and then the U.S. for one-on-one talks on denuclearization before resuming the multilateral process.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula spiked last year following the North's sinking of a South Korean warship and shelling of a southern island. The two attacks killed a total of 50 South Koreans.
The visit by the South Korean opposition leader, considered a 2012 presidential hopeful, comes after his earlier visit to Tokyo in June to meet Japanese political leaders.
The DP has championed the so-called "sunshine policy" aimed at facilitating broad social and economic exchanges as a way to lead the reclusive country to the outer world stage.
During the meeting with Xi, Sohn also stressed that South Korea and China should closely cooperate in the future for a higher level of bilateral ties.
"South Korea and China need to work together in persuading North Korea to not carry out provocations which undermine security on the peninsula," Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP), was quoted by party officials as saying in a meeting with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is earmarked to become China's next president.
Sohn is visiting China to meet political leaders for discussions on regional security, including North Korea, and ways to promote bilateral economic ties.
"Peace on the peninsula is essential for peace and prosperity in the Northeast Asian region," Sohn said.
China is North Korea's last remaining major ally and has propped up its impoverished, provocative neighbor with food and energy assistance and diplomatic support. Beijing is also the host of six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programs.
The six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis have been stalled since April 2009 when North Korea quit, angered by a fresh round of U.N. sanctions. The North conducted its second nuclear test a month later.
During the meeting with Sohn, Xi said China has been seeking denuclearization on the peninsula, adding that tensions on the peninsula should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations, according to party officials.
"China has been persuading concerned nations to work for the resumption of the six-party talks, and will continue to do so," Xi was quoted as saying.
South Korea, the United States and other regional powers are pushing to reopen the six-party talks in a three-step approach in which North Korea will meet South Korea first and then the U.S. for one-on-one talks on denuclearization before resuming the multilateral process.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula spiked last year following the North's sinking of a South Korean warship and shelling of a southern island. The two attacks killed a total of 50 South Koreans.
The visit by the South Korean opposition leader, considered a 2012 presidential hopeful, comes after his earlier visit to Tokyo in June to meet Japanese political leaders.
The DP has championed the so-called "sunshine policy" aimed at facilitating broad social and economic exchanges as a way to lead the reclusive country to the outer world stage.
During the meeting with Xi, Sohn also stressed that South Korea and China should closely cooperate in the future for a higher level of bilateral ties.
