Northeast Asia Geostrategic Forum

[TaiShang]

First senior DPRK diplomat in 9 months visiting Beijing
By WANG QINGYUN,AN BAIJIE | China Daily | Updated: 2017-03-01

Pyongyang dispatched a senior diplomat to Beijing on Tuesday for talks amid China's efforts to stabilize the Korean Peninsula.

The five-day visit by Ri Kil-song, vice-minister of foreign affairs for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opens a chance for dialogue to avoid an arms race on the peninsula, analysts said.

Ri, visiting at the invitation of China's Foreign Ministry, will meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese diplomats, including Vice-Minister Liu Zhenmin and Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news conference on Tuesday.

It is the first visit of a senior DPRK diplomat to Beijing in about nine months. Ri, also vice-chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in June.

"This visit of the DPRK vice-minister represents a normal diplomatic contact and exchange between China and the DPRK," Geng said.

The visit comes nine days after China suspended all coal imports from the DPRK to discourage Pyongyang from additional advances in its weapons program.

The suspension followed Pyongyang's test firing of a new medium-to-long-range ballistic missile on Feb 12.

Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said China is demonstrating its "full implementation" of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Korean nuclear issue by inviting the DPRK official for a visit.

China opposes DPRK actions that go against the resolutions, but it also is putting into practice the resolutions' call for dialogue to solve the Korean nuclear issue, Ruan said.

"Ultimately, the issue needs to be solved through diplomacy. China inviting Ri provides a very good opportunity for communication," he said, adding that the visit shows China's efforts to control risks on the peninsula.

Ruan predicted that the two sides also are likely to talk about how to increase bilateral communication.

Wang Junsheng, a researcher in Northeast Asia studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China and the DPRK have "maintained strategic communication".

On Feb 17, Wang Yi, the foreign minister, said at the Munich Security Conference that Beijing had not given up hope for a new round of talks on the peninsula's nuclear issue.

"There are still opportunities for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks," he said, referring to the talks involving China, the US, the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia.

***

@terranMarine , @samsara , @ahojunk , @powastick , @AndrewJin

I wonder this has anything to do with THAAD deployment. China's communication with Russia, as well as DPRK, is of greater important at this point than before.

 

[Place Of Space]

First senior DPRK diplomat in 9 months visiting Beijing
By WANG QINGYUN,AN BAIJIE | China Daily | Updated: 2017-03-01

Pyongyang dispatched a senior diplomat to Beijing on Tuesday for talks amid China's efforts to stabilize the Korean Peninsula.

The five-day visit by Ri Kil-song, vice-minister of foreign affairs for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opens a chance for dialogue to avoid an arms race on the peninsula, analysts said.

Ri, visiting at the invitation of China's Foreign Ministry, will meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese diplomats, including Vice-Minister Liu Zhenmin and Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news conference on Tuesday.

It is the first visit of a senior DPRK diplomat to Beijing in about nine months. Ri, also vice-chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in June.

"This visit of the DPRK vice-minister represents a normal diplomatic contact and exchange between China and the DPRK," Geng said.

The visit comes nine days after China suspended all coal imports from the DPRK to discourage Pyongyang from additional advances in its weapons program.

The suspension followed Pyongyang's test firing of a new medium-to-long-range ballistic missile on Feb 12.

Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said China is demonstrating its "full implementation" of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Korean nuclear issue by inviting the DPRK official for a visit.

China opposes DPRK actions that go against the resolutions, but it also is putting into practice the resolutions' call for dialogue to solve the Korean nuclear issue, Ruan said.

"Ultimately, the issue needs to be solved through diplomacy. China inviting Ri provides a very good opportunity for communication," he said, adding that the visit shows China's efforts to control risks on the peninsula.

Ruan predicted that the two sides also are likely to talk about how to increase bilateral communication.

Wang Junsheng, a researcher in Northeast Asia studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China and the DPRK have "maintained strategic communication".

On Feb 17, Wang Yi, the foreign minister, said at the Munich Security Conference that Beijing had not given up hope for a new round of talks on the peninsula's nuclear issue.

"There are still opportunities for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks," he said, referring to the talks involving China, the US, the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia.

***

@terranMarine , @samsara , @ahojunk , @powastick , @AndrewJin

I wonder this has anything to do with THAAD deployment. China's communication with Russia, as well as DPRK, is of greater important at this point than before.

Good gesture. Let's see what the south Korea react.

 

[terranMarine]

Relations have become chilly between China and DPRK especially after the assassination. As a result China had implemented the import ban of Coal which will last till the end of this year i believe. The isolated DPRK did harshly criticize her benevolent neighbor recently but eventually decided to sent a diplomat to Beijing. Sanctions, THAAD, missile testing undoubtedly will be on the agenda. Hopefully it will lead to a breakthrough in diplomacy.

 

[jhungary]

This is how South Korea react today.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-usa-drills-idUSKBN1683HQ

South Korea, U.S. begin large-scale annual drills amid North Korea tension

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A barbed-wire fence is set up around a golf course owned by Lotte, where the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be deployed, in Seongju, South Korea, March 1, 2017. Kim Joon-beom/Yonhap via REUTERS
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South Korean policemen and soldiers stand guard at a golf course owned by Lotte, where the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be deployed, in Seongju, South Korea, March 1, 2017. Kim Joon-beom/Yonhap via REUTERS
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right
South Korean policemen and soldiers stand guard at a golf course owned by Lotte, where the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be deployed, in Seongju, South Korea, March 1, 2017. Kim Joon-beom/Yonhap via REUTERS
2/4
left
right
A barbed-wire fence is set up around a golf course owned by Lotte, where the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be deployed, in Seongju, South Korea, March 1, 2017. Kim Joon-beom/Yonhap via REUTERS
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left
right
A barbed-wire fence is set up around a golf course owned by Lotte, where the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be deployed, in Seongju, South Korea, March 1, 2017. Kim Joon-beom/Yonhap via REUTERS
4/4

left
right
South Korean policemen and soldiers stand guard at a golf course owned by Lotte, where the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be deployed, in Seongju, South Korea, March 1, 2017. Kim Joon-beom/Yonhap via REUTERS
1/4

SEOUL South Korean and U.S. troops began large-scale joint military exercise on Wednesday conducted annually to test their defense readiness against the threat from North Korea, which routinely characterizes the drills as preparation for war against it.

The exercise, called Foal Eagle, comes amid heightened tension following the latest test launch of a ballistic missile by the North on Feb. 12 and in the past prompted threats by Pyongyang to launch military action in retaliation.

South Korea's Defense Ministry and the U.S. military based in the South confirmed the start of the drills on Wednesday that will continue until the end of April but did not immediately provide further details.

The exercise last year involved about 17,000 American troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-Koo early on Wednesday by telephone and said the United States remains steadfast in its commitment to the defense of its ally.

Mattis welcomed a deal signed by South Korea with the Lotte Group conglomerate this week to secure the land to station the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in the South, the two countries said.

South Korea has said it and the United States aim to make the system, which the two countries decided last year to deploy in response to the North Korean missile threat, operational by the end of the year.

Han said in the phone call with Mattis that this year's joint drills will be conducted at a similar scale as last year's, which the South's Defense Ministry had called the "largest-ever" exercises by the allies.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency said earlier on Wednesday its leader Kim Jong Un inspected the headquarters of a major military unit and issued guidance on increasing combat readiness.

 

[TaiShang]

Relations have become chilly between China and DPRK especially after the assassination. As a result China had implemented the import ban of Coal which will last till the end of this year i believe. The isolated DPRK did harshly criticize her benevolent neighbor recently but eventually decided to sent a diplomat to Beijing. Sanctions, THAAD, missile testing undoubtedly will be on the agenda. Hopefully it will lead to a breakthrough in diplomacy.

I think, at this point, no need to go so hard on Pyongyang. Keeping the communication channels open and lifeline trade on is important to ensure a check on South Korea.

China-Russia just vetoed a UK-FR led Resolution on Syria. I believe any destructive resolution on the DPRK will be vetoed, as well.

The US has to pull a stunt on its own along with little allies. It is not 1950 anymore.

 

[terranMarine]

I think, at this point, no need to go so hard on Pyongyang. Keeping the communication channels open and lifeline trade on is important to ensure a check on South Korea.

China-Russia just vetoed a UK-FR led Resolution on Syria. I believe any destructive resolution on the DPRK will be vetoed, as well.

The US has to pull a stunt on its own along with little allies. It is not 1950 anymore.

Constructive dialogue is the way to go forward indeed. All parties involved should be committed to finding some sort of workable solution. It's a welcome change from Pyongyang who initiated this visit at this turbulent time.

 

[samsara]

The young, inexperienced Kim JU may be regarded as crazy and hardly predictable leader, but the very last thing I wanna see is the ROK swallowing up the DPRK then another US outpost pops up across the YALU RIVER!

Therefore, spoken or not, as an entity, the North must be propped though its leader may change!

 

[TaiShang]

The young, inexperienced Kim JU may be regarded as crazy and hardly predictable leader, but the very last thing I wanna see is the ROK swallowing up the DPRK then another US outpost pops up across the YALU RIVER!

Therefore, spoken or not, as an entity, the North must be propped though its leader may change!

I agree. Korean unification under present conditions is unthinkable. The minimum benchmark is the absolute removal of the US military presence from the peninsula for this to happen.

Otherwise, any unification attempt would mean Korean War 2.0.

 

[Place Of Space]

I agree. Korean unification under present conditions is unthinkable. The minimum benchmark is the absolute removal of the US military presence from the peninsula for this to happen.

Otherwise, any unification attempt would mean Korean War 2.0.

Why we always think about Korean unification? They are two independent nations, they are both legal UN members.

 

[TaiShang]

Why we always think about Korean unification? They are two independent nations, they are both legal UN members.

Maybe this is Korean people's desire. But, geopolitical situation suggests that it is practically impossible without external intervention. With external intervention, it isn't national unification anymore.

 

[Place Of Space]

Maybe this is Korean people's desire. But, geopolitical situation suggests that it is practically impossible without external intervention. With external intervention, it isn't national unification anymore.

We should not inspire their unification desire anymore. They have to forget about it. Russia and Ukrain don't think about unification, India and Pakistan don't, the Middle East Arabians nations don't, why the hell Korean desire unification everyday and try every step to move toward this goal! We need to use stick to beat heavily their weird desire.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

For over 4 decades, US is making a provocative moves trying to push China to commit mistakes so it can capitalize on it but Chinese leaders know how to keep cool (不动如山), I think Chinese leaders are not aiming to achieve small victory over THAAD at tactical level, but ultimate goal is to prevail when dealing with US provocation at strategical end.

 

[samsara]

We should not inspire their unification desire anymore. They have to forget about it. Russia and Ukrain don't think about unification, India and Pakistan don't, the Middle East Arabians nations don't, why the hell Korean desire unification everyday and try every step to move toward this goal! We need to use stick to beat heavily their weird desire.

However, if one day in future the people of N. Korea decide better to join with China for better livelihood and security reasons, I wish that China will open wide arms to embrace them affectionately by then. After all they already have a great deal of their kinship in Jilin province.

 

[TaiShang]

ROK, US should reconsider before destabilizing region
chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-03-01

Despite strong Chinese and Russian opposition, the Republic of Korea's defense ministry signed a contract with the Lotte Group on Tuesday for a land swap that will enable the deployment of a US anti-missile system.

The deal will speed up the deployment of the US' Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the ROK, which jeopardizes China's national security and regional peace.

Although the two allies say the system will safeguard the ROK from any missiles fired at it by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the THAAD will by no means make the ROK safer. Designed to intercept ballistic missiles at an altitude of 40-150 kilometers, it will not shoot down the short- and medium-range missiles of the DPRK that fly at an altitude of less than 40 km.

Instead, the deployment of THAAD will only exacerbate the estrangement between the ROK and the DPRK, and likely prompt the DPRK to seek a greater sense of security by speeding up its weapons program.

Beijing has made its position unequivocally clear, repeatedly urging the ROK to reconsider its decision. It has made no bones about the fact that it opposes the ROK's deployment of THAAD. Not only because it is a provocation to the DPRK that threatens regional stability, but also because it breaks the strategic balance in the region. The system's radar, which has a range of more than 2,000 km, can peer deep into China's territory, compromising China's military deterrence capability, and damaging its security interests.

Indeed, rather than being a means to enhance the ROK's security as claimed, the deployment of THAAD in the ROK will make the country part of the US' global missile-defense system that targets countries such as China and Russia as potential enemies. By riding on the war chariot of the United States, the ROK is letting itself be drawn into the superpower's geostrategic game.

Even though the current situation leaves China no option but to take countermeasures to safeguard its own interests and security, that does not mean the door to talks aimed at breaking the stalemate in bilateral relations has been shut.

While Washington has adopted a divide-and-dominate strategy in Asia, Beijing is seeking to resume Six-Party Talks for the good of all in the region.

The ROK should take concrete steps to repair the damage it is doing to both bilateral relations with China and the multilateral efforts to resolve the DPRK's nuclear issue.

The ball is in the ROK's court.

 

[ahojunk]

China-DPRK diplomats talk on peninsula situation
2017-03-02 10:02 | China Daily | Editor: Li Yan

Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on all parties involved in the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to grab chances, eliminate challenges and manage and control the situation.

Wang made the appeal when meeting with Ri Kil-song, visiting vice-foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday.

Wang said it is China's consistent position to cement the traditional friendship with the DPRK, and China is ready to boost exchanges, mutual understanding and the healthy development of the two-way ties.

Ri said the two-way friendship is a shared treasure on both sides, and the DPRK is ready to further promote the ties.

Also, Ri said Pyongyang is ready to make in-depth communication with Beijing on the Peninsula situation.

Ri is on a visit to China that began Tuesday and ends Saturday, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

During his visit to China, Ri also talked with Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou.