During a meeting on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Jakarta, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin called on China to take a constructive role in curbing the recent threats posed by North Korea. The meeting with Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi came in the aftermath of Pyongyang’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Minister Park strongly condemned North Korea’s provocative actions and emphasized the shared interest of Seoul and Beijing in halting these provocations and resuming dialogue. In a statement issued by Seoul’s foreign ministry, Minister Park underscored the crucial need for China to contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.
The United Nations Security Council has faced division over how to address North Korea’s behavior for several years. While China and Russia argue that additional sanctions would not alleviate tensions, Washington accuses them of shielding North Korea from further sanctions, thus emboldening the regime. South Korea-China relations have experienced strain recently, exacerbated by China’s warning to South Korea last month regarding its stance in the Sino-U.S. rivalry. In April, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had already angered China by characterizing the Taiwan issue as a global matter rather than solely a dispute between China and Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, considering it a core interest. According to a readout from China’s foreign ministry, Wang told Park during the ASEAN meetings that the Taiwan issue was of paramount importance to China and directly affected the foundation and fundamental principles of China-South Korea relations. Wang expressed hope that South Korea would abide by the one-China principle and handle the matter with prudence and care. He also expressed China’s willingness to work with South Korea to rebuild mutual trust and restore their strategic partnership to a healthy trajectory.
The two diplomats also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as various international and regional issues. However, specific details of their exchange were not disclosed by China’s foreign ministry. The meeting between Minister Park and Wang Yi highlights South Korea’s call for China to assume a constructive role in managing North Korea’s provocations. As North Korea’s close ally and major trading partner, China wields significant influence over the regime. By urging China’s involvement, South Korea seeks to promote peace and stability in the region, emphasizing the shared interest between the two countries in addressing the North Korean threat and resuming diplomatic dialogue.