Dandong:Seoul South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun indicated a potential dialogue between North Korea and the United States might have been discussed during North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent visit to Dandong, China. This possibility was raised as Cho responded to queries during a parliamentary audit concerning foreign and unification ministries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho addressed a question from Rep. Kwon Young-se of the main opposition People Power Party about whether discussions on North Korea-U.S. dialogue could have occurred during Kim's visit. He noted the presence of Ma Zhaoxu, China's executive vice foreign minister experienced in U.S. affairs, in Dandong. Cho also mentioned that despite Kim not meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, it was too early to draw any definitive conclusions from this.
During his one-day visit to Dandong, Kim Jong-un met with Wang Huning, China's top political adviser, and visited local sites, including a war memorial and a bus factory. This visit is part of ongoing efforts by Pyongyang and Beijing to strengthen their relationship.
The visit comes in the context of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend. Trump has shown interest in renewing dialogue with Kim Jong-un, and Cho stated that Seoul has been in consultation with Washington and other relevant parties to facilitate dialogue and ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Cho expressed that a North Korea-U.S. summit could be instrumental in overcoming the current stalemate and emphasized South Korea's role in fostering peace, aligning with President Lee Jae Myung's approach. Additionally, Cho highlighted the importance of collaborating with China and Russia to encourage North Korea to engage in negotiations.