South Korea, China hold bilateral strategic talks amid Putin's visit to North

South Korea and China engaged in senior-level strategic talks on Tuesday afternoon in Seoul, coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea the same day.

Korea's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun, right, and China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong, shake hands before engaging in the Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue at Seoul's Foreign Ministry building in central Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

South Korea and China engaged in senior-level strategic talks on Tuesday afternoon in Seoul, coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea the same day.

The Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue, structured in a two-plus-two format involving each nation's foreign and defense ministries, was hosted at Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. This marks the first time such talks were launched in nine years. The talks, previously at the director-general level, were elevated to a vice-ministerial level meeting.

Representing South Korea were Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun and Director General of the Ministry of National Defense's International Policy Bureau Lee Seung-buhm. China was represented by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong and Deputy Director of the Central Military Commission's Office for International Military Cooperation Zhang Baoqun.

The dialogue covered a range of topics, including bilateral relations, Korean Peninsula issues and broader regional and global concerns.

The timing of the dialogue coincided with Putin's state visit to Pyongyang.

Experts noted subtle tensions between North Korea and China, despite the two celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. This may have influenced China's decision not to move the timing of the South Korea-China dialogue.

"While North Korea and Russia seek to strengthen ties with China, China, mindful of global dynamics, appears hesitant to align too closely with them," said Prof. Kang Jun-young from Korea University's Graduate School of International and Area Studies. "Especially with recent unease toward North Korea, China seems keen not to disrupt the momentum of South Korea-China cooperation, underscored by Putin's visit to North Korea."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry clarified that the talks followed discussions between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit, where plans to enhance diplomatic and security communication channels were agreed upon. China also confirmed that the talks were independent of the North Korea-Russia summit but aimed at improving bilateral ties with South Korea.

While specific details of the talks were disclosed after the newspaper's closing time on 7 p.m. Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said that discussions likely included issues related to Russia-North Korea cooperation, given Putin's concurrent visit to North Korea.

An anonymous official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the flexibility of such dialogues, stating, "There's no rigid framework; agendas and participants can be adjusted flexibly based on each country's situation and bilateral relations." The official also confirmed that the agenda remained unchanged despite Putin's visit to North Korea.

Despite the usual discretion on North Korean matters, Chinese media outlet Caixin expressed concerns about Putin's visit to North Korea, suggesting it could potentially escalate military cooperation between North Korea and Russia "to reinstate the automatic military intervention," under which one side must provide military troops and aid without hesitation if the other is under armed attack.

BY SEO JI-EUN, PARK HYUN-JU [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]