‘Complex’ reasons why China’s special envoy has not been to North Korea
But diplomatic mediation efforts have not halted, he says
China’s special envoy for North Korea said on Friday there were “complex” reasons why he has yet to visit the country, but that China’s efforts to help bring about the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and foster peace were relentless and unchanged.
Vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou, who is ethnically Korean, became Beijing’s special envoy to North Korea in August.
His predecessor, Wu Dawei, made his last publicly announced visit to North Korea in early 2016, urging restraint after Pyongyang announced a plan to put a satellite into orbit with a long-range rocket.
“The reason I’ve not been to North Korea since being appointed the Chinese government’s special envoy for Korean peninsula matters is very complex,” Kong said.
“But no matter whether or not [I] go to North Korea, our firm stance on being dedicated to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and the denuclearisation process has not changed.
“Our proactive diplomatic mediation work has also not stopped for a moment.”