China’s Wang Says Any North Korea-US Summit Must Be Decided by Pyongyang and Washington

Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister and director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Foreign Affairs Office, took a cautious line on whether Beijing would mediate talks between the leaders of North Korea and the US during his visit to South Korea, saying it was "for North Korea and the United States to decide."

Wang made the remarks to reporters on August 19 after talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at the foreign ministry in Seoul.

He also said that "the United States, in particular, should change its long-standing hostile policy toward North Korea."

On China-South Korea ties, Wang said relations had entered a path of improvement and development since the launch of President Lee Jae-myung’s government. He said that was in the interests of both countries and in line with the wishes of their peoples. He added that China is the world’s largest market and South Korea is right next to it, stressing that deeper cooperation between Seoul and Beijing would also benefit South Korea’s development.

Kim Su-young, Hankyung.com reporter swimmingk@hankyung.com