Seoul and Beijing Hold First Round of Diplomatic and Security Talks

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Monday, that South Korea and China will hold the first round of diplomatic and security talks tomorrow, Tuesday, as part of an agreement reached by the two countries last month. The ministry stated in a statement that the talks will be led by South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong, with the presence of senior defense officials from both countries. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed to launch the talks and resume free trade negotiations when they met last month in Seoul during a summit that included Japan. The ministry noted that the two countries plan to "exchange views on issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations, matters related to the Korean Peninsula, and regional and international situations" during the meeting. The talks may coincide with a potential visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea, which has prompted Seoul and Washington to warn against any additional military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang that would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. President Yoon urged China and Russia to play a larger role as permanent members of the UN Security Council amidst North Korea's rapid development of its nuclear and missile capabilities.