Leaders from South Korea, China, and Japan reiterated their commitment to a denuclearized Korean peninsula on Monday during a rare summit where they also agreed to enhance trade relations.
The summit brought together South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Seoul for the countries’ first trilateral talks in nearly five years. The meeting was partly due to the pandemic and an improvement in previously strained relations.
Although North Korea was not officially on the agenda, Pyongyang announced shortly before the summit that it planned to launch another spy satellite into orbit, which would violate multiple UN sanctions prohibiting the use of ballistic technology for testing.
During a joint press conference, Yoon and Kishida called on Pyongyang to cancel the launch, with Yoon stating that it would disrupt regional and global peace and stability.
Yoon also emphasized the need for a strong international response if North Korea proceeded with the launch, which Seoul claims is being supported by Russia in exchange for sending arms to Moscow for use in Ukraine.
Despite being North Korea’s key ally and economic supporter, China remained silent on the issue during the briefing, with Premier Li not addressing it.
In a joint statement issued after the talks, the countries reiterated their commitment to the “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” highlighting that peace is in their common interest and responsibility.
– Differences –
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has criticized North Korea’s nuclear tests in the past and supported sanctions to curb its weapons development.
In recent years, as tensions between China and the United States have grown, China has hindered efforts led by Washington to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea.
China has consistently called for the denuclearization of the entire Korean peninsula while blaming US-South Korea joint military exercises for escalating regional tensions.
Experts point out that there is significant overlap in technology between space launch capabilities and the development of ballistic missiles.
The press conference in Seoul and the joint statement highlighted the differing opinions among the three countries regarding North Korea, according to Lee Dong-gyu, a Research Fellow at the Asan Institute.
Obtaining a quick consensus on how to handle Kim Jong Un’s regime was always going to be challenging due to the differing diplomatic and security positions of each country, especially against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions between the US and China.
Nevertheless, the fact that South Korea, China, and Japan are seeking to increase trilateral cooperation and enhance economic ties is a positive sign for potential agreements on more complex issues related to North Korea’s nuclear program.
“If the three countries succeed in economic cooperation, they can collaborate on security matters based on that foundation,” he added.
– Trade ties –
The three countries announced on Monday their intention to accelerate negotiations for a Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Chinese Premier Li also stated that they had agreed not to politicize economic and trade issues or turn them into security matters, rejecting protectionism and the decoupling of supply chains, as reported by Xinhua.
Yoon mentioned that the leaders had decided to create a transparent and stable environment for trade and investment, along with establishing a secure supply chain.
Following their discussions, Yoon, Li, and Kishida participated in a business summit aimed at boosting trade between the countries, attended by top industry leaders.
Yoon, who assumed office in 2022, has worked towards improving relations with former colonial power Japan in light of the threats posed by nuclear-armed North Korea.
South Korea and Japan are also key regional security allies of the United States, although they are also keen on enhancing trade and reducing tensions with China.
“The trilateral cooperation system should be strengthened. We have decided to hold trilateral summits regularly,” Yoon stated.
President Xi Jinping is China’s top leader, with Premier Li serving under him.
North Korea successfully launched its first reconnaissance satellite in November last year, leading to international condemnation, with the US describing it as a violation of UN sanctions.
South Korea announced on Friday that South Korean and US intelligence agencies were closely monitoring preparations for another military reconnaissance satellite launch, which could occur as soon as Monday according to Pyongyang’s schedule communicated to Tokyo.
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