Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "China Blocking Local Access to Naver? Confirming with Relevant Agencies"

Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Aware... Consulting with Relevant Agencies"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 23rd regarding reports that access to Korean portal sites Naver and Daum has been blocked in China, "We are aware of the situation and are confirming it together with relevant agencies."

At a regular briefing on the same day, spokesperson Lim Soo-seok said in response to reporters' questions, "We are currently verifying the matter." According to earlier sources, in major regions within China such as Beijing and Shenyang in Liaoning Province, recent access to Naver has either been unavailable or experienced slow loading speeds.

It has not been confirmed whether the local Naver access disruption is simply a temporary connectivity issue or an official block imposed by authorities. Some interpret this as a possible retaliatory measure by China in the context of recent tensions with the United States.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In fact, if the suspension of high-level exchanges between Korea and China continues, concerns about China's countermeasures amid the strengthening cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan are emerging both inside and outside diplomatic circles. While the US and Japan have initiated high-level exchanges with China, no high-level face-to-face diplomatic channel dialogue has taken place between Korea and China since November last year.

Yesterday, a sudden Korea-China director-level consultation was held. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Choi Yong-jun, Director of the Northeast Asia Bureau at the Ministry, held director-level talks with Liu Jin-song, Director-General for Asia at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who visited Korea. Director Liu also paid a courtesy call on Choi Young-sam, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. A Ministry official explained regarding this meeting that "they had broad and candid discussions on mutual interests." It was reported that the Taiwan Strait issue, which China considers sensitive, was also discussed at this meeting.

Regarding the possibility of reactivating dialogue channels such as Korea-China supply chain consultations, the official said, "Both countries recognize the necessity of communication and have agreed to continue related communications," adding, "Although the date has not been set, plans for holding the meeting will be communicated." It is known that the two countries are conducting various diplomatic consultations frequently through high-level channels at the deputy minister level or above.