US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs: "Expect China to Contribute to Korean Peninsula Peace with Responsible Attitude"

Explanation of US visit to China after visit to Korea on the 21st
"Blinken urges China to stop North Korean provocations"

Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who visited China accompanying U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and arrived in South Korea on the 21st, stated, "I believe we can say that the South Korea-U.S. alliance has never been stronger than it is now." He also emphasized, "There remains an expectation that China will take a responsible stance and contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

After meeting with Vice Foreign Minister Choi Young-sam in Seoul on the same day, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink told reporters, "We made it clear to the Chinese side that China has both the capability and responsibility to exert influence to encourage North Korea to halt provocations and return to the negotiating table." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that during the meeting between Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink and Vice Minister Choi, the U.S. and China discussed North Korea's increasingly reckless provocations and threatening rhetoric, as well as China's role in this context.

He particularly mentioned regarding China, "We are encouraging China to urge North Korea to return to the nuclear negotiation table, to stop provocative actions, and to halt all recent missile test launches." Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink also referred to President Yoon's visit to the U.S., saying, "I had the opportunity to reflect on President Yoon's historic state visit to Washington, which was remarkable in tone, content, and outcomes."

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink emphasized, "Going forward, the U.S. will maintain high-level communication channels with China to prevent the possibility of conflicts arising from misunderstandings or miscalculations." Vice Foreign Minister Choi also reaffirmed the shared recognition between South Korea and the U.S. that "the cessation of North Korea's provocations and denuclearization are common interests of the international community, including China," and stated, "We will continue to urge China to play a constructive role in this."

Vice Foreign Minister Choi further stated, "We support the U.S. efforts to responsibly manage U.S.-China relations through steady communication with China, including Secretary Blinken's recent visit," and added, "The South Korean government will strive to build a healthy and mature relationship with China based on mutual respect."

Meanwhile, Vice Foreign Minister Choi and Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink agreed to faithfully and swiftly implement the agreements made during President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to the U.S. in April, and to continue close cooperation to concretize the 'new level of trilateral cooperation' agreed upon by the leaders of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan at the May G7 Summit. Vice Minister Choi also repeatedly requested U.S. support, noting that the government is making every effort to host the World Expo in Busan, including President Yoon's presentation at the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) General Assembly.