Representative Sung Kim also points out North Korea's provision of weapons to Russia
On the 30th (local time), the representatives of the United States and China on North Korea policy held an online video conference, during which the U.S. raised the issue of China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.
The U.S. Department of State announced that on this day, Special Representative for North Korea Policy Sung Kim (also serving as U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia) discussed North Korea-Russia military cooperation and reports related to China's "repatriation of North Korean nationals (defectors)" during a video consultation with Liu Xiaoming, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs.
Several media outlets reported that China recently resumed the repatriation of detained North Korean defectors within China, which had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Special Representative Kim pointed out that North Korea’s recent provision of weapons to Russia undermines global non-proliferation efforts and risks violating multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that Russia itself supported. He also emphasized the United States’ commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and diplomacy with North Korea, expressing hope for continued communication on North Korean issues at all levels.
Furthermore, the State Department stated that Special Representative Kim stressed the necessity for all UN member states to fulfill their obligations and comply with UN sanctions regulations.
In this regard, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing that "the current deadlock on the Korean Peninsula is due to the absence of a peace mechanism and the remnants of the Cold War, and all parties must address their concerns in a balanced manner."
Meanwhile, this video conference between the North Korea policy representatives was held ahead of the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for next month.
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