South Korea, China hold long-awaited vice-ministerial strategic talks

South Korea and China held vice-ministerial strategic talks for the first time in two years and seven months, amid closer military and economic ties between North Korea and Russia.

Kirea's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun,right, and China's Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu pose for a photo during a meeting at the foreign ministry building in Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

South Korea and China held vice-ministerial strategic talks for the first time in two years and seven months, amid closer military and economic ties between North Korea and Russia.

Kim Hong-kyun, South Korea's vice minister of foreign affairs, and his Chinese counterpart Ma Zhaoxu met in Seoul on Wednesday. The talks, which lasted nearly five hours, covered bilateral relations, Korean Peninsula issues and broader regional and global affairs, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

The dialogue marked the first high-level meeting between Seoul and Beijing, which holds influence over Pyongyang, since North Korea and Russia signed a new strategic partnership treaty on June 19.

Both sides acknowledged the increase in high-level exchanges and agreed to make a concerted effort to bolster cooperation.

"This dialogue is significant since it was held during a critical period as North Korea escalates tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region through its multiple complexes of provocations and its strengthened military and economic cooperation with Russia," a South Korean official told reporters under the condition of anonymity Thursday.

The ministry also highlighted that Ma is the most senior of China's vice ministers of foreign affairs.

During the meeting, South Korea expressed "grave concerns" over North Korea's actions and its newest treaty with Russia. South Korea called on China to "play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in denuclearizing North Korea," proposing the "continuation of communication" between the two nations.

In response, China stated that its policy regarding the Korean Peninsula "remains unchanged" and pledged to "play a constructive role in resolving Korean Peninsula issues."

South Korea also emphasized the importance it places on protecting North Korean defectors, requesting "active cooperation" from China.

China showed interest in the recent meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s Indo-Pacific (IP4) partners — Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand — held alongside the NATO summit. South Korea highlighted the necessity of cooperation with NATO in light of the interconnected security of Asia and Europe, especially considering Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Moscow's close ties with Pyongyang.

The Korea-China strategic dialogue follows the May agreement between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to reactivate diplomatic and security communication channels.

China has been expanding communication with South Korea and Japan, relatively distancing itself from the recent North Korea-Russia rapprochement.

Before visiting Seoul, Ma held a similar strategic dialogue with Japan in Tokyo on Monday. China reportedly first proposed the meeting with South Korea.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul reiterated the country's intention to maintain strategic diplomacy with China, particularly given the unusual dynamics in North Korea-China relations.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]