Unification Ministry expresses hope that North Korean leader’s visit to China can jump-start dialogue

The Ministry of Unification said Monday it hopes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong last week will lead to the resumption of dialogue with neighboring nations.

Kim made a surprise visit to Dandong on Saturday, where he met with Wang Huning, China's fourth-highest-ranking official, as North Korea and China are seeking to deepen their traditional ties.

"We hope the visit will contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and lead to the resumption of dialogue with neighboring countries," Yoon Min-ho, the ministry's spokesperson, said at a regular briefing.

Responding to speculation that Kim's trip could be linked to a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Yoon said the South Korean government is "watching closely" and will do what it can in the event of such a meeting.

On Kim's visit to a bus factory in Dandong, Yoon said the ministry would watch developments without drawing conclusions, since North Korea had not specified the purpose of the visit.

The factory stop was seen as a sign that Pyongyang wants to expand cooperation with China in transportation and trade. The export of transportation vehicles to North Korea violates United Nations sanctions.

Yoon described a letter Pyongyang sent to the United Nations Security Council as a "countermeasure" to Seoul's letter last week over the Sept. 21 mine blast in the demilitarized zone. Seoul's letter sought North Korea's accountability for planting mines and injuring three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously.

"The letter reaffirms North Korea's position [on the matter] and appears to justify its border fortification work," Yoon said.

The ministry is consulting with other relevant ministries on measures in response to the incident, Yoon said.

Yonhap