Ministry of Unification: “Possibility of coordination of North Korea-US dialogue during Kim Jong-un’s visit to China… Concerns about Korea passing”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Eun-jung = A report from a national research institute has emerged that North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un's visit to Dandong, China, may have served as an opportunity for prior coordination ahead of the North Korea-U.S. summit.

Jeong Eun-i, head of the North Korean Studies Department at the Korea Institute for National Unification, made this analysis on the 26th in an online series report titled 'Evaluation of Chairman Kim Jong-un's visit to Dandong and outlook for the North Korea-US summit', while analyzing reports on the results of Chairman Kim's visit to China by North Korean and Chinese state media.

Director Chung said that there was no mention of North Korea or North Korea in the official reports from both sides, but pointed out that analyzes by major media outlets and interviews with Chinese experts were analyzing the possibility of prior coordination for a meeting between North Korea and North Korea leaders during U.S. President Donald Trump's Asia trip before and after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Director Jeong said, “For China, which is seeking to play a role as a mediator in the North Korea-US dialogue as the chair of APEC, calling North Korea’s top leader to its territory and continuing high-level communication was an opportunity to show its influence on Korean Peninsula issues,” adding, “China’s interests are intertwined in both aspects of internal politics and external status.”

He continued, "Ahead of President Xi Jinping's fourth term in office next year, arranging pre- and post-APEC North Korea-US dialogue could be an external achievement for President Xi that supports the stable establishment of the four-term system," and added, "The conditions of a fourth term in office and being the APEC chairman are giving China more incentive than ever to get involved in the North Korea-US dialogue."

Director Jeong said, “What I am most concerned about is Korea passing,” and pointed out, “Both direct transactions with North America and China-led mediation create problems that narrow Korea’s position and diplomatic and security space.”

At the same time, he said, “Based on the South Korean government’s information capabilities and experience in negotiating with North Korea, we must actively suggest a location, format, timing, and agenda to the United States and China,” emphasizing the need to simultaneously engage in communication with both the United States and China.