Beijing:Seoul Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to visit China this week for discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on matters concerning North Korea and bilateral relations, as announced by Seoul's foreign ministry on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho's visit to Beijing will span two days starting Friday. During the visit, he is scheduled to engage in talks with Wang Yi and participate in a dinner on the same day. The discussions are expected to cover a broad range of topics, including bilateral relations, developments on the Korean Peninsula, and other regional issues, as stated by ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon.
Cho's visit comes as a follow-up to an invitation from Wang Yi during their previous discussions in Seoul in August. At that meeting, the ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations and Korean Peninsula matters, with Cho urging Beijing to play a constructive role in encouraging North Korea to return to dialogue.
This visit will occur ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's planned attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. The summit will also be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump, and other world leaders. The gathering is expected to facilitate a meeting between Xi and Trump, with speculation about a possible trilateral meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin.
There is also speculation regarding a possible meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during Trump's trip to Asia. However, a South Korean presidential official indicated that such a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit is unlikely, citing numerous unpredictable factors.
Spokesperson Park noted, "While there have been various reports about the possibility of renewed U.S.-North Korea dialogue, we currently see little likelihood of any concrete moves. We are closely monitoring relevant developments." He expressed hope that resuming U.S.-North Korea dialogue would foster progress toward stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula.