Assembly speaker seeks China's help to resolve NK nuke issue
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Assembly speaker asked a former top Chinese diplomat Monday to help resolve the ongoing diplomatic standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, saying it is a key issue for regional peace.
Chung Ui-hwa made the request to former Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan during a luncheon with members of a forum of political leaders from both sides.
"For peace in Northeast Asia, the North Korean nuclear issue must be resolved first," Chung said during the luncheon inside the National Assembly compound in Seoul.
"If (the two Koreas) reunify through reconciliation and cooperation, it will not only contribute to peace in Northeast Asia but also to the groundbreaking development of China's three northeastern provinces."
Tang, an expert on Korean Peninsula issues, said South Korea and China are "strategic partners" and "good friends," adding that his visit is aimed at discussing ways to carry out agreements that were made between the two countries' leaders during their summit in July.
As North Korea's No. 1 ally and key provider of economic aid, China is seen to have the biggest diplomatic leverage over Pyongyang.
Following North Korea's third nuclear test in February 2013, Beijing has taken a tougher approach to Pyongyang by backing a U.N. sanctions resolution against the North and carrying out the restrictions more vigorously than before.
hague@yna.co.kr
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