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Suh Hoon, director of the South Korean National Security Office, poses for a photo with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, on Thursday ahead of bilateral talks. (pool photo)

South Korea’s national security advisor Suh Hoon arrived in China on Thursday for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi. It appears that during Suh’s two-day stay, he discussed various issues with his counterpart, including the end-of-war declaration Seoul is pushing for and industrial supply chain issues, among others.

At a meeting held at a hotel in Tianjin that evening, Suh noted that international affairs are “going through a transitional period, which makes this time more important than ever for South Korea and China to maintain communication and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the region.”

“The two countries have been cooperating toward the common goals of complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. I look forward to close cooperation on the stable management of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and advancement of the peace process,” Suh added.

To this, Yang noted the importance of close, timely strategic communications between South Korea and China. He added that he hoped for “a broad and in-depth exchange of views on common interests in a new era and under new circumstances.”

Suh and Yang had both previously met with US national security advisor Jake Sullivan in October in Washington and Zurich, respectively. As both sides have already held meetings with the US, it is expected that South Korea and China will be able to discuss their positions regarding the Korean Peninsula in greater detail.

Suh Hoon, director of the South Korean National Security Office, poses for a photo with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, following talks in Busan in August 2020. (Yonhap News)

In particular, as much of the phrasing around an end-of-war declaration has already been fleshed out with the US, Suh is expected to be able to give Yang a detailed account of the matter. As a signatory to the Korean War Armistice Agreement that ended hostilities, China has repeatedly expressed its intention to participate in the declaration of an end to the Korean War.

With discussions on an end-of-war declaration now broadening to include China as well, it is worth considering whether discussions on the topic will begin in earnest between the four parties involved, namely South Korea, North Korea, the US and China. If discussions on the topic of an end-of-war declaration pick up momentum ahead of the kickoff of the Beijing Winter Olympics next February, a sudden trip by President Moon to China can’t be ruled out.

It seems that in-depth discussions were held on industrial supply chain issues between the two countries, including the severe shortage of urea, a chemical used in fertilizer and for diesel exhaust solution.

Referencing the recent urea crisis, Suh noted during his opening remarks that he looked forward to preventing similar problems from occurring going forward.

Suh arrived in Tianjin Thursday morning and was accompanied by Kim Choon-goo, presidential secretary for peace planning in the National Security Office, who oversees the issues of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the end-of-war declaration.

By Jung In-hwan, Beijing correspondent; pool reporters

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]