China could be excluded from peace talks after Donald Trump-Kim Jong-un summit, analysts say

Beijing should be involved in talks for a peace treaty to officially end the Korean war, according to Chinese analysts, who say there is a chance it could be left out of the negotiations following a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump on Saturday said his meeting with Kim could happen “over the next three or four weeks”. Pyongyang meanwhile offered its first major concession on Sunday, saying it would close down its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in May, and invite experts and journalists to witness it, according to the South Korean president’s office. 

North Korea also plans to change its time zone so that it is the same as the South’s – there is a half-hour difference at the moment.

Kim also disputed a claim by Chinese scientists that he offered to shut down the test site only because it was no longer functioning after the last nuclear test in September triggered a series of aftershocks that are believed to have caused part of the mountain to collapse, according to a spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

“Some said we will dismantle unusable facilities, but there are two larger tunnels [in addition to] the original one and these are in very good condition as you will [see],” Kim was quoted as saying by the spokesman, Yoon Young-chan.