Beijing: National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the occasion of a massive military parade in China on Wednesday, his office said. The two sides briefly exchanged greetings before watching the parade in Tiananmen Square, held to mark China's anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II, according to the office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, attendees who witnessed the encounter reported that Woo remarked to Kim, "It's been seven years since we met." Kim responded with a brief "Yes." Their initial meeting took place during the historic 2018 summit between Seoul and Pyongyang, when Woo was serving as the Democratic Party's floor leader. During that summit, Woo shared personal stories with Kim, revealing his family's North Korean roots and the emotional separation from his two sisters who still reside in the North.

Woo also had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where he urged Xi to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for next month in Gyeongju. This meeting marked Woo's second interaction with Xi, following prior discussions in Harbin in February.

Additionally, Woo engaged in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, seeking support for approximately 130 South Korean firms operating in Russia. Putin showed interest in inter-Korean relations and the geopolitical dynamics of the Korean Peninsula, inquiring if Woo had any message for Kim in the event of a North Korea-Russia summit. Woo expressed a desire for the Koreas to embark on an "era of peace and prosperity," stressing the importance of collaborative peace-building efforts despite existing challenges.

Later, the Kremlin stated that Woo and Putin did not hold a formal meeting but may have exchanged brief greetings. Woo is scheduled to meet with senior officials from the National People's Congress and the State Council before concluding his trip and returning home on Friday.