SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - President Moon Jae In on Thursday (Feb 8) urged China to lend a hand in facilitating Washington-Pyongyang talks, saying that Seoul and Beijing share the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
In his meeting with China's Politburo Standing Committee member Han Zheng in Seoul, President Moon called for China's support in the matter.
"North Korea is actively engaging in inter-Korean dialogue on the occasion of the Olympics. This dialogue must connect to the issue of peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," Mr Moon was quoted as saying by spokesman Kim Eui Kyeom.
"(I) urge the Chinese government to take a bigger role to facilitate inter-Korean talks leading to US-North Korea talks."
Mr Han, who leads China's high-level delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics, echoed Mr Moon on the necessity of US-North Korea talks.
"The key to the Korean Peninsula's political situation is in the hands of the US and North Korea. South Korea and China must share the goal of the US and North Korea engaging in direct talks," Mr Han was quoted as saying by Seoul's presidential spokesman.
At the meeting, Mr Moon also called for the scope of Seoul-Beijing relations to be expanded to include political and security issues, and for close cooperation between the two governments on North Korean issues.
The South Korean leader also took the opportunity to ask the Chinese government to take action in improving conditions for South Korean businesses in China.
Despite the apparent thaw in Seoul-Beijing relations, South Korean businesses say that conditions in China still have room to improve and the inflow of Chinese tourists coming to South Korea remains slow.
Relations between the two countries took a tumble following the previous Park Geun Hye administration's decision to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-missile system in the country.
China responded with unofficial sanctions against South Korean businesses and tours to the country.
At a lecture on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said dialogue between North Korea and the US is "absolutely necessary" and "urgent" so as to avoid any unpredictable and dangerous situations amid rising tension on the Korean Peninsula.
"I think it's not a question of possibility. This kind of dialogue is absolutely necessary, and it's urgent because we need to quickly start to have a serious discussion to avoid the kinds of misunderstanding and escalation that can all of a sudden lead to a situation that is unpredictable and very dangerous," he said in a lecture with youth hosted by a local broadcaster CBS.
As for the series of the UN sanctions on the communist regime, he described it as to having created an opportunity to lead to some kind of a political engagement.
"Those sanctions are having a huge (impact) in the country. So I think if the Security Council shows the same unity, the same firmness, North Korea would understand that there's no way to have economic progress and solutions for their people if they don't come to have serious dialogue with the international community," Mr Guterres said, suggesting that is the way to achieve peaceful denuclearisation in the North.
Earlier in the day, he had called for all nations to observe the Olympic truce and to transcend political differences during the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In a statement, he said the Olympics and Paralympics showcase the best of the world's athletic achievements and best of humanity, and that it will have more resonance than ever on the Korean Peninsula.
"Its fundamental message is that our common humanity can transcend political differences. I call on all parties to conflict to observe the Olympic truce during the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
