Moon, Xi agree to cooperate for peace settlement on Korean Peninsula

Nov 19, 2018, 09:17 am

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before their talks in Papua New Guinea on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on Nov. 17./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporter Lee Seok-jong

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping judged that the time for resolving the issues on the Korean Peninsula is getting closer and agreed to work closely together for the success of a possible second summit between the United States and North Korea during their talks on Saturday.

“The two leaders agreed that a second summit between Washington and Pyongyang and a planned visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Seoul would be an important breakthrough in resolving the situation on the peninsula,” Kim Eui-kyeom, Moon’s spokesman, told reporters after Moon and Xi held their talks for 35 minutes at the Stanley Hotel in the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

“President Moon forecasted that Chairman Kim’s Seoul trip and a second summit between Washington and Pyongyang would take place successfully. In response, Chinese President Xi said the situation on the Korean Peninsula is returning to the correct track,” the spokesperson said.

Xi said that he supports President Moon and the South Korean government’s efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. “China will continue to play a constructive role in building peace on the Korean Peninsula,” he added.

It is hoped that such shared understanding of the two leaders will accelerate the denuclearization and peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

While US-North Korea denuclearization talks are in a stalemate, Moon has attracted China’s cooperation that could have a profound impact on North Korea’s denuclearization process.

Although Xi did not disclose exactly when he would visit Pyongyang, his expression of intention to visit North Korea next year to President Moon is also expected to accelerate the implementation of denuclearization and peace process.

During the talks, Moon invited Xi to visit Seoul as part of the improving situation on the Korean Peninsula, and Xi replied that he is willing to come to South Korea next year at a “convenient time.” Xi also said he has received an invitation to visit North Korea from North Korean leader Kim and is considering travelling there next year.

As Xi pledged to cooperate with Moon, China is expected to draw North Korea’s proactive attitude toward denuclearization.

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