Moon holds crucial first talks with US and Chinese leaders on N. Korea

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 11, 2017, 15:42 Updated : May 11, 2017, 15:42

[Aju Graphic by Kim Hyo-gon = hyogoncap@]


President Moon Jae-in held crucial talks over phone with US and Chinese leaders amid growing public concern among South Korean voters about a diplomatic deadlock over how to handle North Korea and a US missile shield.

In a 40-minute telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Moon offered to dispatch a special delegation to Beijing for discussion on North Korea's nuclear program and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system installed in South Korea, the president's office said.

Xi explained China's basic position on the missile shield which has strained bilateral relations while Moon expressed his understanding about China's "interest and concern", the office said, adding Moon won Xi's consent when he suggested that South Korea and China should have better and early communication and understanding on the thorny issue.

The two leaders agreed to exchange a special envoy at an early date, and Xi invited Moon when the South Korean leader proposed an early summit meeting, Moon's office said. To curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions, Moon called for a "comprehensive and gradual" settlement and stressed that "pressure and sanctions" should go in parallel with negotiations to draw Pyongyang back into the dialogue table.

The conversation followed Moon's first telephone talks with US President Donald Trump.  At their 30-minute talks, Moon and Trump agreed to hold a meeting as early as possible to discuss North Korea and other pending issues.

"The South Korea-US alliance is more important than at any other time given the growing uncertainties over the security situation of the Korean Peninsula," Moon was quoted as saying.

Trump invited Moon to Washington at an early date, saying the North Korean conundrum, though challenging, can be resolved, while Moon called for "heart-to-heart" talks, vowing to send a special diplomatic delegation. Summit talks are probably possible in June, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com

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