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South Korea’s president urged North Korea on Wednesday to present a plan with concrete steps toward denuclearization, raising the pressure on leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to Beijing to discuss the outcome of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Kim is in Beijing on his third visit to China this year, underscoring the major improvement in relations between the communist neighbours.
Kim’s motorcade was seen leaving the North Korean Embassy on Wednesday afternoon as police closed off major roads and intersections in central Beijing. Gawking pedestrians watched the passing motorcade, which included Kim’s limousine — a black Mercedes with gold emblems on the rear doors — as well as several minibuses and 15 motorcycle police clad in white suits.
The motorcade travelled to Beijing’s airport, where the limousine was spotted entering the charter flight terminal.
In Seoul, South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged North Korea to present “far more concrete” plans on how it will scrap its nuclear program, and the United States to take unspecified corresponding measures swiftly.
“It’s necessary for North Korea to present far more concrete denuclearization plans, and I think it’s necessary for the United States to swiftly reciprocate by coming up with comprehensive measures,” Moon said.
Moon’s office said he made the remarks to Russian media ahead of his trip to Moscow later this week.
Moon, who has met with Kim twice in recent months, said the North Korean leader is willing to give up his nuclear program and focus on economic development if he’s provided with a reliable security guarantee. Moon described Kim as “forthright,” “careful” and “polite.”
U.S. firm on sanctions relief
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Seoul was monitoring Kim’s “newfound diplomatic activism” and the outcome of his meetings in China.
“China has an important role to play on issues of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula,” Kang said.
He said South Korea expects the discussions in Beijing will help move forward the process of denuclearization.
Kim leaves the North Korean Embassy in Beijing in this photo taken by Kyodo on Wednesday. Kim paid another visit this week to economic patron China. (Kyodo via Reuters)
China backs the North’s call for a “phased and synchronous” approach to denuclearization, as opposed to Washington’s demand for an instant, total and irreversible end to the North’s nuclear programs.
A report by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim expressed his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping when they met on Tuesday. KCNA said that during a banquet hosted by Xi, Kim also said North Korea and China are seeing their ties develop into “unprecedentedly special relations.”
At his summit with Trump last week in Singapore, Kim pledged to work toward denuclearization in exchange for U.S. security guarantees. The U.S. and South Korea suspended a major joint military exercise that was planned in August in what was seen as a major victory for North Korea and its chief allies, China and Russia.
There was no official word on Kim’s activities on Wednesday, although South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said his motorcade was seen at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing.
China has encouraged Kim’s shift toward economic development and has touted the prospects of more trade and investment if North Korea makes progress in talks on abandoning its nuclear weapons and long-range missile programs.
That could allow the lifting of UN Security Council economic sanctions that have caused a plunge in North Korea’s foreign trade, although the U.S. insists that easing of sanctions can only come after the North shows it has ended its nuclear programs. The U.S. says China is in agreement on that point, although Chinese officials have repeatedly stated that sanctions should not be considered an end in themselves.
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