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North Korea
ChinaDiplomacy

North Korean nuclear crisis at a crossroads: Xi Jinping urges Kim and Trump to fast track talks

South Korean president’s right-hand man makes stop in Beijing in push for inter-Korea summit

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) greets South Korean National Security Adviser Chung Eui-Yong and South Korean ambassador to China Noh Young-min at the Great Hall of The People in Beijing on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Laura Zhou

The North Korean nuclear crisis is at a crossroads and Washington and Pyongyang should hold direct talks as soon as possible.

That was the message Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered when he met Chung Eui-yong, top security adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily reported.

Xi also urged the main players to be patient and cautious in dealing with the challenges and distractions of any negotiations ahead.

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The meeting came just days after Chung headed a delegation to Pyongyang and Washington as part of a push by Seoul to have an inter-Korea summit by the end of April.

“China has been calling for both South and North Korea to improve their relationship, push for reconciliation and cooperation, and support dialogue between North Korea and the United States,” Xi was quoted as saying.

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“We look forward to the smooth organisation of the South-North leaders meeting and dialogue between North Korea and the US.”

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