President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet with Wang Yi, a member of the Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Blue House on August 20. Attention is on whether the multilateral discussions on ending the Korean War, proposed by President Lee in his Liberation Day speech on August 15, will gain momentum.
According to the Blue House on August 18, President Lee plans to discuss the development of South Korea-China relations and regional situations during the meeting, while also conveying greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be Wang's first visit to South Korea since September 2021.
On the same day, National Security Office Director Wi Seong-rak is also expected to hold talks and lunch with Wang, who concurrently serves as the head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party. The Blue House stated that a broad exchange of views on mutual interests, including South Korea-China relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, is anticipated. On the afternoon of August 19, Wang will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin for a South Korea-China foreign ministers' meeting, the first in over 11 months.
Of particular interest is the discussion on what role China will play in resuming dialogue with North Korea.
President Lee outlined a vision for a North Korea policy focused on "inclusive, stable, and responsible coexistence" during his Liberation Day speech, stating, "We will embark on a journey to end the war and transform the unstable armistice system on the Korean Peninsula into a peace system."
He further emphasized, "Let us begin discussions among the parties involved to end the long-standing war and set aside mutual threats, which could lead to effective measures to halt North Korea's nuclear capabilities." This marked the first time President Lee specifically mentioned multilateral discussions regarding peace negotiations.
Additionally, President Lee highlighted the potential for discussions on halting North Korea's nuclear capabilities through multilateral dialogue, stating, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula will promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia and serve as a milestone toward a world without nuclear weapons."
In his March 1 speech, President Lee had previously mentioned, "I will do everything possible to transition the armistice system into a peace system through practical tension reduction between the two Koreas and cooperation with relevant countries." His Liberation Day speech took a step further by officially proposing discussions among the parties involved, demonstrating a commitment to fostering substantial progress toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
A Foreign Ministry official remarked, "While it is difficult to predict the outcomes of the talks, since the President has presented a blueprint for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, discussions on this matter are likely to proceed naturally."
The government is expected to urge both the U.S. and China to cooperate in ensuring that the North Korean nuclear issue is discussed constructively during the upcoming U.S.-China summit, ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. in September.
For President Lee's multilateral discussions on ending the war to gain traction, it is crucial to clearly communicate the South Korean government's position to China.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, noted, "In the context of establishing a peace system, discussions on a declaration to end the war with Minister Wang are expected to face U.S. backlash. It is important for us to emphasize the need for discussions while also highlighting the necessity of North Korea-U.S. dialogue, inter-Korean dialogue, and a four-party meeting process."
According to the Blue House on August 18, President Lee plans to discuss the development of South Korea-China relations and regional situations during the meeting, while also conveying greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be Wang's first visit to South Korea since September 2021.
On the same day, National Security Office Director Wi Seong-rak is also expected to hold talks and lunch with Wang, who concurrently serves as the head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party. The Blue House stated that a broad exchange of views on mutual interests, including South Korea-China relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, is anticipated. On the afternoon of August 19, Wang will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin for a South Korea-China foreign ministers' meeting, the first in over 11 months.
Of particular interest is the discussion on what role China will play in resuming dialogue with North Korea.
President Lee outlined a vision for a North Korea policy focused on "inclusive, stable, and responsible coexistence" during his Liberation Day speech, stating, "We will embark on a journey to end the war and transform the unstable armistice system on the Korean Peninsula into a peace system."
He further emphasized, "Let us begin discussions among the parties involved to end the long-standing war and set aside mutual threats, which could lead to effective measures to halt North Korea's nuclear capabilities." This marked the first time President Lee specifically mentioned multilateral discussions regarding peace negotiations.
Additionally, President Lee highlighted the potential for discussions on halting North Korea's nuclear capabilities through multilateral dialogue, stating, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula will promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia and serve as a milestone toward a world without nuclear weapons."
In his March 1 speech, President Lee had previously mentioned, "I will do everything possible to transition the armistice system into a peace system through practical tension reduction between the two Koreas and cooperation with relevant countries." His Liberation Day speech took a step further by officially proposing discussions among the parties involved, demonstrating a commitment to fostering substantial progress toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
A Foreign Ministry official remarked, "While it is difficult to predict the outcomes of the talks, since the President has presented a blueprint for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, discussions on this matter are likely to proceed naturally."
The government is expected to urge both the U.S. and China to cooperate in ensuring that the North Korean nuclear issue is discussed constructively during the upcoming U.S.-China summit, ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. in September.
For President Lee's multilateral discussions on ending the war to gain traction, it is crucial to clearly communicate the South Korean government's position to China.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, noted, "In the context of establishing a peace system, discussions on a declaration to end the war with Minister Wang are expected to face U.S. backlash. It is important for us to emphasize the need for discussions while also highlighting the necessity of North Korea-U.S. dialogue, inter-Korean dialogue, and a four-party meeting process."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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