S. Korea sees possibility of N. Korea-U.S. dialogue discussions during Kim Jong-un's China visit

SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he sees the possibility that North Korea and China discussed the resumption of dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington during the North's leader Kim Jong-un's surprise visit to China's border city of Dandong last week.

Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign and unification ministries, responding to Rep. Kwon Young-se's question about whether discussions on North Korea-U.S. dialogue may have taken place during Kim's visit.

"I believe that is a possibility," Cho said.

Kwon of the main opposition People Power Party cited the presence in Dandong of Ma Zhaoxu, China's executive vice foreign minister, who is regarded as a Chinese diplomat with extensive experience in U.S. affairs.

Asked whether Kim's failure to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, unlike on previous occasions ahead of potential North Korea-U.S. talks, could carry broader implications, Cho said it was "too early to draw a definitive conclusion and that various factors needed to be considered."

Kim made a one-day visit to Dandong on Saturday, meeting Wang Huning, China's top political adviser, and visiting a war memorial and a bus factory amid Pyongyang and Beijing's efforts to deepen ties.

The visit came ahead of a planned Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen next month, which U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend. Trump has expressed interest in resuming dialogue with Kim.

Cho said Seoul has been consulting with Washington and other relevant parties to help facilitate dialogue between North Korea and the United States and ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"First of all, I think a North Korea-U.S. summit could serve as a catalyst for breaking the current impasse," Cho said.

"Building on such a summit, we will seek to play the role of a 'pacemaker' to help the United States become a 'peacemaker,' in line with President Lee Jae Myung's stated approach," he added.

Cho also said Seoul would work closely with China, Russia to help bring North Korea to the negotiating table.

graceoh@yna.co.kr
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